On deadline day of the summer window, Arsenal’s Matteo Guendouzi ended up joining Hertha Berlin on a loan deal.
The Bundesliga side don’t have an option to make his stay permanent, meaning the 21-year-old will have to return to the Emirates after completing his temporary spell.
After making his debut against VfL Wolfsburg, the Gunners man has started every fixture in the league for the German club and has two goals to his name in nine matches.
On December 15th, Bild advised Bruno Labbadia’s side to sign Guendouzi on a permanent transfer in the summer.
The France U21 international’s contract at Arsenal expires in 2022 and Hertha Berlin general manager Michael Preetz has said the north London club will have a decision to make.
Another report from Bild once again talks about Guendouzi’s situation and explains it will be hard for Hertha Berlin to retain him beyond this term, due to the agreement of the loan deal. Their chiefs ‘know this too’.
Therefore, they are already looking for a replacement for Arteta’s man and Wolfsburg’s Yannick Gerhardt could be Guendouzi’s successor at the German club.
Labbadia knows Gerhardt first hand from his time at Wolfsburg. In addition to this, the latter’s contract expires at the end of this season so he will be available on a free transfer, if Gerhardt decides not to sign an extension.
Michael Preetz, the managing director of Hertha Berlin, spoke at a press conference on Friday and Fussball Transfers have relayed his comments.
Preetz emphasised a firm decision on Guendouzi will not be made “before the end of the season.”
