Hoffenheim co-owner Dietmar Hopp is prepared to allow Luiz Gustavo Dias to join Bayern Munich.
Brazilian expected to leave Hoffenheim for defending champions
Hoffenheim co-owner Dietmar Hopp has revealed that he is prepared to allow Luiz Gustavo Dias to join Bayern Munich at the end of the season.
The versatile 23-year-old is capable of playing in any position across the defence and can also operate in a holding role in midfield.
Defending Bundesliga champions Bayern have been linked with an £8.5million bid for Gustavo as a result and Hopp accepts that the left-footed player will be on his way in the summer of 2011 at the latest.
Hopp told
Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung newspaper: "It is pretty clear that Luiz Gustavo will join Bayern Munich at the end of the season.
"It would be unfair, it would almost be morally wrong, if we obstructed his career. If we are able to pick up an equal replacement, he could move now.
Wrong signal
"But the likelihood of seeing that happen is decreasing with every single day."
Hoffenheim manager Ralf Rangnick, who has steered his club to eighth place in the Bundesliga at the winter break, does not want to see Gustavo leave in January.
He said: "We want to keep the player. General manager Ernst Tanner and I are of the opinion that we will not be selling Luiz Gustavo during the winter break.
"I would wonder about the fact that we are selling our best player. That would send the wrong signals to the other members of our team.
"We have a good chance to achieve a place in a European club competition."
