VFB TARGET HOFFMAN

Despite not publicly criticising 21-year-old Hildebrand (pictured), Rangnick is said to be not fully satisfied with the stopper's performances so far this season, which has seen VfB concede 30 Leagues goals in 17 games, and they currently lay joint bottom of the table.

Reserve team goalkeeper Eberhard Trautner has only made 32 Bundesliga appearances, and Rangnick is reluctant to throw him in at the deep end.

Hoffman, who is reported to have been contacted by Stuttgart already, is a free agent after his Kocaelispor contract was cancelled after less than five months in Turkey.

After losing his place at 1860 to Simon Jentzsch, he moved to the Turkish club, but was refused payment and even made the scapegoat for poor performances.

VfB are now hoping to tie him up on a free transfer before the winter break, in the hope that he can help the club avoid relegation from the German top flight.