HSV Hamburg will ask for a waiver from Arsenal so they can sign Fabio Vieira on a permanent basis this summer.
This is according to the sport build. The German newspaper reports that the HSV is working on a 'Viera coup' this summer. The belief is that the chances of finding it are good.
Vieira has flourished in Hamburg this season under manager Merlin Polzin. He joined the German side on loan in the summer transfer window as part of a double deal with Arsenal.
The second half of the season was particularly fruitful, with Vieira directly involved in almost half of Hamburg's goals. That's four out of nine.
HSV are growing increasingly confident about the 25-year-old, they would love to keep him. And there is a chance that Vieira does not want to return to England or Arsenal. In fact, he believes Bundesliga football suits him better.
what happens next
HSV plan to discuss his future with him in March or at the latest in April. The bigger problem is the €20m buyout clause included in the loan from Arsenal. The German club will have to do this exercise between mid-May and mid-June at the most.
Arsenal had insisted on this clause during talks last year. The Gunners initially wanted to include it as a liability. HSV rejected this because the financial risk was too great should Vieira not perform.
However, they only had 48 hours to complete the deal, and negotiated hard to change it from an obligation to a clause. The belief now is that they hold the cards.
€20m is probably beyond their means either way. But that doesn't mean the Hamburg club has no chance. They know that Vieira and his family feel at home in Hamburg.
need to reduce arsenal
The midfielder has been impressed by Polzin and his staff, who have helped him get back to his best. He also has very trusting relationships with high level people at the club. Even the love shown by HSV fans did not go unnoticed. In short, he loves life in the club.
If he gives a strong commitment to the club, it will help in negotiations with Arsenal. HSV require Arsenal to lower their asking price to €8-10 million. They can afford a fee of €10-12m for Vieira this summer.
A meeting is planned with his agents Vieira and Gestifute. On a positive note, Arsenal sporting director Andrea Burta has a good relationship with the Portuguese agency. That might be helpful.
He had already made concessions to HSV in the initial loan deal last summer. Now he is expected to do so again, with Vieira perhaps looking to make the move permanent.
