Takuma Asano is set to return to Arsenal this summer, after Hannover 96 decided against activating the forward’s option to buy in his one-year loan deal.
On Sunday, Hannover confirmed on their club website that Asano would be among the group of players leaving this summer. The Bundesliga club had a €3m option to purchase the Arsenal man at the end of his loan, but they’ve decided not to take it up.
It’s been clear for a while that this would be the case. Asano only had to make one more appearance for a compulsory purchase clause to be activated, but Hannover deliberately left him out of the team for almost two months just to avoid that scenario.
The 24-year-old played a total of 15 games for the relegated German side, scoring once and winning a penalty in 851 minutes on the pitch. Unfortunately, the loan just didn’t go well.
The Japanese international only has a year left on his Arsenal contract, so he’s likely to move on now, assuming the Gunners can find a buyer. You don’t imagine the club will extend his deal, nor are they going to give him a chance in the first team, so leaving is the only real option.
For now, Asano will return to Arsenal, until his situation is resolved this summer.