Hamburg CFO confirms club remains committed to Fabio Vieira despite Arsenal stalemate
With the 26-year-old midfielder accounting for seven goals and five assists last season, Hamburg’s board insists they can secure a competitive deal without exceeding budget constraints.
Hamburg’s Chief Financial Officer, Dr Eric Huwer, has confirmed the Bundesliga club remains steadfast in its pursuit of former Arsenal loanee Fabio Vieira, despite a lack of progress in negotiations with the London-based side. Speaking to Kicker during the team’s training camp in Längenfeld, Austria, Huwer revealed that while a financial offer has been submitted, Arsenal has not yet agreed to the proposed terms.
The 26-year-old attacking midfielder was Hamburg’s most productive player in the previous campaign, recording seven goals and five assists across 29 league appearances. Huwer noted that Vieira outscored all seven strikers in the HSV squad, contributing a total of 12 scorer points. The board considers the Portuguese youth international pivotal to their recent success, with Huwer stating the club would not have retained its Bundesliga status without his contributions from the previous season.
Huwer clarified that the primary obstacle to the transfer is not the player’s salary demands, but rather Arsenal’s reluctance to move on the asset. The former Gunner’s estimated market value stands at €18 million, a figure that reportedly exceeds the current budget available to the Hamburg board. Nevertheless, Huwer expressed confidence that the club can structure a competitive offer without breaching financial limits.
“We’ve fallen a little bit in love with Fabio and are re-fighting for him every day,” Huwer told Kicker. “We’ve given Arsenal the numbers. They’re just not budging yet. We’re confident we can make a competitive offer without breaking the bank.”
The comments were made on the same day Huwer led a formal tribute to recently deceased former Hamburg professional Kevin Keegan and club icon Uwe Seeler. As Hamburg’s board member and Chief Financial Officer, Huwer also serves on the DFL Supervisory Board, overseeing the club’s financial strategy amid ongoing transfer discussions.
The exact figure of the offer tendered to Arsenal has not been disclosed, nor has the final composition of any potential deal, including possible loan-to-buy structures or performance add-ons. It remains unclear whether Arsenal’s position will shift in the near future, leaving Hamburg in a holding pattern as they seek to retain their leading scorer for the upcoming season.
