Reports: Signs point to summer departure for Hertha prospect Maza

Both Germany’s main sporting tabloid and its preeminent footballing publication report that interest within Germany and abroad render it increasingly likely that Hertha talent Ibrahim Maza may be on the move this offseason. 

A public dust-up with trainer Pal Dardai during Hertha BSC’s Friday night 1-1 draw with Hannover 96 adds further fuel to speculation that Germany U19 international Ibrahim Maze might be on the move away from Charlottenburg this summer. The 18-year-old – once lauded by Dardai as one of the club’s most promising talents – has been linked with the likes of VfB Stuttgart and Brighton & Hove Albion. 

Dardai moved the German-Algerian attacker into the Hertha senior team late in last season’s relegation campaign. Maza has two German top tier appearances to his credit. He scored for Hertha on their final match-day in the German top fight. This year, Maza missed the first half of the campaign due to meniscus surgery. He’s scored one goal and chipped in two assists since becoming a regular fixture in the starting XI on match-day 23. 

Maza signed a long-term contract extension last year, but Germany’s Kicker Magazine reports that player and club have cooled on the prospects of further cooperation. Germany’s “Sport Bild” tabloid reports that VfB Stuttgart sporting director Fabian Wohlgemuth and some members of his staff recently visited a Hertha fixture for the express purpose of scouting the teenage talent.