Hamburg SV manager Merlin Polzin is keen on bringing Arsenal‘s Fábio Vieira back to the club before the window closes on Tuesday.
The attacking midfielder spent the last two seasons on loan at FC Porto and the German club.
Last season, the Arsenal man played 2,427 minutes from 31 matches, scoring six goals and contributing seven assists. Hamburg didn’t make his stay permanent, and he has already returned to the Emirates.
Ongoing efforts to sign Arsenal man
His performances have convinced them to bet on him this summer. Last month, Hamburg chief financial offer and board member Eric Huwer had confirmed making a competitive offer for the 26-year-old.
The Bundesliga side want him for €8-9m and have refused to meet Arsenal’s €20m price. Their plan is to wait until the end of the window to secure his services for a reasonable fee.
On Thursday, Sport Witness covered a report from Germany explaining that Hamburg director Claus Costa was in England to hold talks with the Gunners. The two clubs haven’t found an agreement yet.
Manager not giving up on Arsenal man
Friday’s print edition of Bild again points out Claus Costa’s Tuesday’s trip to London for another meeting with Fábio Vieira.
Hamburg manager Merlin Polzin insists the official travelling to England shows they are keen on signing the Portuguese.
“It’s a huge sign of appreciation that Claus and the club are showing Fabio after his performances last season,” he said.
Although the player is at Arsenal, Polzin confirms he’s in regular contact with him.
“I know how he’s doing personally, as I’m in constant contact with him,” Polzin explained.
“He’s an outstanding player who fit perfectly into the team and brings something very special to our game. For me, as a football fan, it’s a huge gain. It’s our duty to give it our all.
“We’re in constant communication with Costa and Kathleen Krüger [sporting director]. We put everything on the table for discussion. Everyone contributes.”
“I have complete confidence in the people in charge. This phase is challenging, but also exciting, a lot is happening.”
Vieira’s contract expires in 2027. The next few days are the Gunners’ last opportunity to cash in from his sale and avoid losing him for free next summer. This may be the reason for Hamburg’s confidence of getting the deal over the line.
