Hertha not willing to let Arne Maier go this month, says Michael Preetz
Hertha aren't interested in letting Arne Maier go, says sporting director Michael Preetz. Nevertheless, the 21-year-old is still hoping to leave the club this month.
Arne Maier recently told Bild that he has decided that he wants to leave Hertha BSC this month after holding talks with head coach Jürgen Klinsmann and sporting director Michael Preetz.
But apparently, Hertha aren't currently prepared to let the central midfielder depart the club.
"We're not thinking about letting Arne Maier go at all. Rather, we hope the boy will return to full fitness and top form, so that he can once again compete for places in midfield," Hertha boss Michael Preetz told Sky.
Speaking to Bild, Maier says he's surprised by Preetz's comments and remains hopeful that he will be able to find a new club during the January transfer window.
"For me, this statement comes out of nowhere. In the past few days, I had several intensive conversations with the people in charge. Among other things, they showed understanding for my situation, but also clearly told me that I'm not in their plans at the moment. And their new signings speak for exactly that," Maier said.
Hertha have signed two central midfielders in January – Santiago Ascacibar, who has joined the club from VfB Stuttgart, and Lucas Tousart, who will be making the move to the German capital in the summer.