Werder Bremen executive Klaus Filbry has played down speculation linking star striker Marko Arnautovic with a move to Ukrainian Premier League giants FC Dynamo Kiev, according to Sky Sports.
Arnautovic, 23, has bagged seven goals and nine assists in 25 appearances for club and country, Austria, this season.
The Austria international, who joined Bremen from Dutch Eredivisie side FC Twente Enschede in 2010, has fallen a bit out-of-favour with Bremen manager Thomas Schaaf in recent weeks, which has further fueled speculation linking the 23-year-old with a move to Dynamo Kiev.
However, Arnautovic — whose current contract expires in June 2014 — is still a very important player for the club, insists Bremen executive Klaus Filbry.
“As things stand today we have no interest in selling Marko Arnautovic. We want him to stay at our club,”Filbry told BILD.
“He recently said that he is looking to be successful over the second half of the season. That is what we are looking for.
“We hope to persuade Marko Arnautovic to sign a new contract with our club. This will be one of the main issues for Thomas Eichin to address in the weeks to come.”
Arnautovic has not featured for Die Grün-Weißen since being sent off against Hamburg SV after coming on as a substitute on 27 January
On loan Bayern Munich striker Nils Petersen is keeping the Austrian on the bench at the moment.
Hannover want to keep Diouf
Hannover 96 are hoping to agree a contract extension with former Manchester United striker Mame Biram Diouf amid reports that Borussia Dortmund are keen on the Senegal international, Sky Sports understands.
Diouf, 25, is under contract at the AWD Arena until June 2014.
The Senegalese striker has received glances from Dortmund due to his sensational form in the Bundesliga this season.
The 25-year-old has tallied 14 goals and four assists in 23 appearances in all competitions for Die Roten in 2012-13.
There’s absolutely no doubt that Diouf is a big player for the club, as reaffirmed by manager Mirko Slomka, which is exactly why the club are desperate to retain his services for next season and beyond.
With that said, Dortmund and a number of other clubs across Europe, will certainly try to prevent just that.
In the end, it will — in all likelihood — be too difficult for Hannover to keep their star man, and unfortunately so.
“Mame Biram Diouf is an exceptional striker,” Slomka told ZDF Media.
“We are happy to have him at our club and we will do our best to ensure that he remains with us.
“It is normal that other clubs are interested in a player like this. That does not mean that he automatically has to move clubs.
“My wish is to see a contract extension with Diouf put in place.”
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