Johan Djourou
Djourou's time at Arsenal could end this summer with German clubs interested. (Reuters)

Bundesliga duo Hannover and Hamburg are both vying for the signature of Arsenal defender Johan Djourou.

The 26-year-old joined Hannover on a six month loan spell last January after making just two appearances for the Gunners during the first half of the season.

Given the Switzerland international's increasingly peripheral role at the Emirates over the years, Arsene Wenger is likely to sanction his exit as he seeks to overhaul areas of his squad this summer. A permanent switch to Hannover seemed the likeliest destination, but Hamburg's sporting director Oliver Kreuzer has urged the defender to move to the "better team."

"We would loan him, but we would also buy him, depending on what Arsenal prefer," Kreuzer told Bild.

"Hannover played well in Europe last season but Hamburg is Hamburg. HSV is HSV, and we are just the better club."

Having only played in the Capital One Cup for Arsenal last season, Djourou enjoyed a far more active start to 2013 in Germany.

The centre half started 16 games for Hannover as the club finished in a respectable ninth place, and is likely to have stronger chances of first team football in the Bundesliga than in north London.

Djourou himself has admitted that he sees his future away from Arsenal and with Hannover.

"It would be fantastic if the clubs could agree on a deal," the defender said in April. "I have been granted the chance to play here and I am getting better and better and slowly finding my old form."

Arsenal have been eager to offload a number of players on their books who have little or no future at the club after failing to impress when presented with opportunities.

Perhaps the biggest offender in Andrei Arshavin was released by the Gunners at the beginning of the month. The Russian international in now poised to return to the club he left for Arsenal in January 2009 after Arsene Wenger ran out of patience with the enigmatic Russian.