Hamburg chase Arsenal's Djourou

Bundesliga side Hamburg are interested in signing English Premier League outfit Arsenal‘s Swiss defender Johan Djourou, according to a report here today.

“We would take him on loan or buy him, depending on which is better for Arsenal,” Hamburg’s sports director Oliver Kreuzer told German daily Bild.

Djourou, 26, impressed this year during his six-month loan spell at Hanover 96, making 14 Bundesliga appearances, and the centre-back’s services are in hot demand with Hanover also interested.

But Kreuzer says Hamburg have the advantage over their north German rivals for Djourou’s signature and which could reportedly cost them 4.5million euros.

“Hanover have played well in European competition in recent years, but Hamburg is Hamburg, Hanover are Hanover,” he said.

Djourou has been at Arsenal since 2004, making 86 appearances for the Gunners and is under contract until 2015, having won 40 caps for Switzerland.

Hamburg are also reported to be interested in signing Borussia Dortmund’s 22-year-old centre-back Lasse Sobiech, who has recently been loaned to relegated Greuther Fuerth and second division St Pauli.

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