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Rafael Van der Vaart and Marcell Jansen set for Hamburg exits

Rafael van der Vaart of Hamburg in action against Hertha Berlin
Image: Rafael van der Vaart: Expected to leave Hamburg in the summer

Rafael van der Vaart and Marcell Jansen have been informed they do not have a future with Hamburg.

Both players will be out of contract in the summer and neither will be offered new terms, Hamburg's director of sport Dietmar Beiersdorfer has announced.

Meanwhile, Heiko Westermann and Slobodan Rajkovic face uncertainty over their futures at Hamburg.

"Rafael and Marcell know that we are not going to hold any talks with them over contract extensions," Beiersdorfer said on his club's website.

"With Heiko and Slobodan, we've left it open. We've postponed a decision and told the players this.

"The players have assured us that ensuring Hamburg avoid relegation is the absolute priority and that they will put everything into this."

It is not yet clear whether Van der Vaart, 32, will continue his career elsewhere, but he has been offered another role at the club when he does hang up his boots.

"Yes, we've spoken about that," Beiersdorfer said. "Rafael is one of the best and most significant players in Hamburg's recent history.

"We want to give him the opportunity to return here after his playing career. We'll discuss what sort of role that could be at the given time."

Van der Vaart has made 192 appearances for Hamburg in two separate spells, scoring 66 goals.

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