Werder Bremen have not ruled out selling reported Arsenal target Per Mertesacker in the summer.
German club looking at options over stopper's future
Werder Bremen have not ruled out parting company with reported Arsenal target Per Mertesacker at the end of the season, according to general manager Klaus Allofs.
The Germany defender's contract with Bremen expires in June 2012, meaning the Bundesliga club could only demand a substantial fee for him this summer.
Mertesacker, also understood to be on Liverpool's radar, has already revealed the prospect of a move to the Premier League is an 'attractive' one.
And Bremen boss Allofs says the club could be prepared to cash in on the 26-year-old this summer, as well as goalkeeper Tim Wiese, who is also out of contract next year.
He told
BILD: "If you are not going to hand out an extension to an outrunning contract then you need to know all the possibilities available to you.
"I am unable to just look after the money, I am also unable to just look after the sport factor.
"As soon as we are aware of our fate in the Bundesliga this spring, we are going to clarify if we are able to sign extensions to these contracts.
"We will be in talks, that is for sure."
Mertesacker and Wiese are both first-team regulars for Bremen, who are currently a disappointing 12th in the Bundesliga and just four points clear of the drop zone with seven games remaining.
