Hamburg’s managing director, Dr. Eric Huwer, confirmed that the Bundesliga club is not ready to give up on former Arsenal loanee Fabio Vieira. On the same day that he delivered a special tribute to recently deceased former Hamburg professional Kevin Keegan, Huwer spoke to Kicker. As HSV’s training camp commenced in Längenfeld, Austria, he expressed a desire to welcome back last season’s leading goalscorer.

Hamburg’s Bundesliga status would be uncertain without their blockbuster signing from last autumn. The attacking midfielder netted seven goals, outpacing all seven strikers in the HSV squad. Furthermore, his five assists in 29 league appearances led to him being the team’s top contributor with 12 scorer points.

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With an estimated market value of €18 million, the former Portuguese youth international still exceeds the budget available to Huwer, who serves as the club’s Chief Financial Officer. As Vieira’s loan with Hamburg came to an end, the club extended an offer to the Gunners. Huwer clarified that the player’s salary was not a concern; rather, the issue lies with Arsenal’s reluctance to negotiate.

“We’ve fallen a little bit in love with Fabio and are fighting for him every day,” Huwer told Kicker. “We’ve given Arsenal the numbers. They’re just not budging yet. We’re confident we can make a competitive offer without breaking the bank.“

GGFN | Peter Weis