Monday, 24th June, 2013
Hamburg sporting director Oliver Kreuzer has officially confirmed the club’s interest in taking Arsenal’s Johan Djourou, with the promise of playing for a team that are better than Hannover.
Djourou was on loan with Hannover since a move in the January transfer window and had even spoken of an extended spell beyond the summer.
Hamburg were understood to be eyeing the Switzerland international, who has a contract with Arsenal until 2016, with Kreuzer insisting both a loan deal or a permanent buy were on the table as options.
He told Bild: "We could hire him, but we could also buy him. It depends on what Arsenal want to do."
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Djourou was initially part of the youth set-up at Arsenal, having joined them in 2004, but made his way upwards to the senior squad with three years spent under Arsene Wenger’s watch.
However, with Arsenal investing heavily in their defence, he was sent out on loan to Birmingham City for half a season.
He did manage another five years with Arsenal after returning from St Andrew’s but then found himself out of favour and ended up at Hannover, in the January transfer window.
Hannover have enjoyed a few years in European competition, while Hamburg have floundered in recent seasons, and eventually finished outside the Europea League spots.
However, Kreuzer is intent on raising the profile of Hamburg, at least to Djourou, by adding: "We are simply the better team [than Hannover].
"Although Hanover have recently played some good international games, Hamburg is Hamburg, and HSV is HSV."
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