Bundesliga side Werder Bremen are interested in re-signing Arsenal centre-back Per Mertesacker should he leave the Emirates at the end of the season, according to German media outlet Bild.
The 32-year-old is in the final year of his contract at the North London club, and has yet to feature so far this season due to a knee injury he sustained in July.
Consequently, speculation has been building about the former Germany international’s future, and Bremen, who had Mertesacker in their ranks prior to his move to Arsenal, have thrown their hat in the ring to be a potential destination.
The sporting director, Frank Baumann, told Bild: ‘I can see Per at Werder.
‘In the course of Serge’s [Gnabry] transfer, we also talked about his [Mertesacker’s] future.’
The defender has already said that he’d be open to a move back to Germany should Arsene Wenger decide against offering him a new deal, and his other former club Hannover have also expressed an interest.
Mertesacker made his senior debut for Hannover back in 2003, and spent three years there before sealing a €5 million move to Bremen in the summer of 2006.
He went on to make 172 appearances for the German side in a five-year spell, and also became a regular for the Germany national team before joining Arsenal in 2011.
Despite injury, Mertesacker’s place in the heart of the Arsenal defence is under threat following the signing of compatriot Shkodran Mustafi in the summer transfer window.
He and Laurent Koscielny have started the season well and appear to have developed a good partnership at the back for the Gunners, making it difficult for Mertesacker to get back into the side when fit.
Subsequently, he may feel that it’s time to move on from Arsenal when he contract expires at the end of the season.
