Hannover are reportedly refusing to play on-loan forward Takuma Asano in a bid to avoid paying a buy-out clause, a decision that has angered Arsenal .
The 24-year-old linked up with the Bundesliga strugglers on a temporary basis at the beginning of the season.
He has experience in Germany, having spent time at Stuttgart during a two-year loan spell in which he impressed.
This season at Hannover, he has appeared in 15 games in all competitions, his only goal and assist coming in a cup game against third tier Karlsruher SC back in August.
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It’s been reported in Germany that if Asano plays one more game this season, the German side will be obliged to pay £2.6million to purchase him permanently from Arsenal.
They have therefore made the decision that they would rather not activate that clause, and he looks set to miss out on action for the remainder of the season.
And Kicker have claimed that Hannover have informed the Premier League club of their stance - and it’s been met with frustration.
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In fact, Arsenal are believed to be ‘angry’ at Hannover over the whole saga, having been under the impression that he would be given more first-team opportunities.
The Japanese forward signed for Arsenal back in 2016 from Sanfrecce Hiroshima but is yet to make a single appearance for the club.
Hannover are on the brink of relegation to the second tier of German football, sitting rock bottom of the Bundesliga on 14 points - six adrift of safety with seven matches remaining.
Reiss Nelson and Emile Smith Rowe are both also on loan in Germany, at Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig respectively.
