Stuttgart and Schalke are hoping to bring Liverpool ace Dietmar Hamann back toÊDie Bundesliga, according to reports in the German media. Hamann’s contract at Anfield expires in 2005 and although the defensive midfielder is happyÊon Merseyside, failure to qualify for the UEFA Champions League might tempt him to look for alternative offers. Stuttgart coach Felix Magath will have to replace Croatian veteran Zvonimir Soldo who is certain to retire next year and has singled out Hamann as an ideal candidate. “Hamann is a highly interesting player. He could help us to replace Soldo,” Magath told Bild am Sonntag. The same paper also reports about the interest of Schalke coach Jupp Heynckes, who has already spent big to sign Werder Bremen duo Ailton and Mladen Krstajic and is now scouring the transfer market for a new midfielder. Heynckes wants to put ambitiousÊSchalke backÊamong the elite in Germany and Europe and reportedly feels his side could benefit from having a solid holding player in the mould of Hamann inÊtheir ranks. Liverpool will resist any bid for the former Bayern Munich and Newcastle star as the German international is an integral part of Gerard Houllier’s plans at Anfield.
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