Celtic defender Maik Nawrocki is playing for his future with Hannover 96, who will only sign him on a permanent basis if they secure a return to the Bundesliga this season.
BILD report on the matter today, including comments from the Celtic defender. He joined Hannover on loan in the summer, following a three-year spell with the Hoops.
Permanent Celtic exit
The 25-year-old has been a regular for the German side this season, with 16 appearances in the Bundesliga to date and 42% of the available minutes under his belt.
The loan deal includes an option to buy him permanently from Celtic. But BILD report that a permanent transfer would likely only be possible if Hertha make it to the Bundesliga.
They currently sit third in the 2. Bundesliga table. Schalke have already been promoted as champions, and the battle is now on for second place.
SV Elversberg hold that on 59 points, the same as Hannover. But their superior goal difference, 22 to 16, has them in front at this moment in time. Paderborn in fourth also have 59 points, and a goal difference of 14.
Celtic will be watching
It means the race for promotion will go down to the wire. And Mail Nawrocki’s future won’t lie in Germany if Hannover don’t win it. He, though, is feeling optimistic.
“The euphoria and the belief that we can do it are there,” he said.
“They’ve been behind us all season, even when we dropped points and were only fifth for weeks. Now we have one more home game. We’ll do it together.”
Celtic will be watching that race with interest, then. They sent Nawrocki out on loan this season with the option clearly hoping that it would be taken up.
Now it rests on another tight promotion race in the 2. Bundesliga going their way. Nawrocki will be hoping he can play his part, in whatever manner possible.
