Arsenal’s newly-appointed captain Per Mertesacker has recently revealed that there is a possibility of him leaving the club in the January transfer window.
According to Mattias Karen of ESPN, German defender Per Mertesacker has suggested that he is open to leaving Arsenal in January. It is also reported that former club Hannover are interested in re-uniting with him, and he could consider a move to the Bundesliga side should Arsenal cease to renew his contract come the end of the season.
The 32-year-old towering centre-back is in the final year of his contract at the Emirates, and could not be offered an extension, given the quality already present in that area. Arsene Wenger decided to go all guns blazing in his pursuit of German defender Shkodran Mustafi, and completed a few days before the summer window drew to its close.
The former Valencia defender has adapted well to life in England and has proven to be a good partner to long-standing Arsenal centre-back Laurent Koscielny. Together, the French and German duo has given Wenger’s side much-needed stability at the back and it has also given the Gunners the impetus to play freely in the final third.
Rob Holding, 19, also moved to the Emirates this summer, and is equally adept to deputise for either one of Koscielny and Mustafi, should any injuries befall them. This eventually will push Mertesacker into a dark corner, who is himself recuperating from a long-term injury suffered at the start of the season.
Wenger has a penchant for fielding younger players, and an injury prone Meretsacker is everything but that. He appears to have reached the twilight of his career and his best days are arguably behind him.
A move to his native Germany could be a win-win for both parties as he could clock regular playing minutes, while Wenger could have a high-earner off his books. It would also open a specific payroll budget for the Frenchman to rope in more players and build the team for the future, given the fact that he is now closer to an exit than ever with a possible England job on the horizon.
