Hertha Berlin director of sport Michael Preetz has insisted midfielder Ondrej Duda will be returning to the club from Norwich City this summer.
Duda has been on loan with the Canaries since January, having joined until the end of the season when he found himself out of favour at the German club.
He’s had a tough time with Norwich since then, managing just 10 Premier League appearances and zero goals or assists in that time.
He was also unable to help them avoid relegation from the Premier League, with Norwich relegated and currently 13 points from Watford in 17th place.
The original loan deal did not include an option to turn the move into a permanent one and, a report back in April claimed Hertha were keen to keep him regardless.
Preetz has now confirmed that is the case, insisting the loan spell at Norwich has served it’s purpose, even if it did end in relegation.
“It was not a lost month,” he told Kicker.
“Ondrej has got game practice in a strong league. England has done harder, true. Nevertheless, the loan has served its purpose.
“Nothing has changed in the fact that we are planning with Ondrej.
“The manager and I are convinced that with his anticipation, his ability to score and his ability to lead the game accelerate, can help.
“Ondrej is robust and strong enough for the kind of football we want to play.”
