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Darmstadt won't stand in way of Sandro Wagner transfer

Darmstadt will allow forward Sandro Wagner to leave the club if the striker wants to seek a new challenge next season.

Wagner, 28, has been one of many players to revive his career at surprise package Darmstadt this season. He joined the newly promoted side last summer after three years of not making any impression at Hertha Berlin.

His transfer from the capital club was tipped to be the last chance for the forward, who scored a brace for Germany in the 2009 under-21 European Championship final against England.

Coming through the ranks at Bayern Munich, he then played for MSV Duisburg, Werder Bremen, Kaiserslautern and Berlin.

Prior to the season, Wagner had scored seven Bundesliga goals in 85 appearances, and a further 24 in 85 Bundesliga II and Bundesliga III matches.

This season, Wagner has struck 13 goals, mostly from close range, in 29 league matches for Darmstadt, and has been instrumental in his club's efforts to stay in the league.

"Darmstadt was his last chance to gain a foothold in the first tier. That's what we made clear to him, but also put trust in him to continue to show himself in Bundesliga," Darmstadt coach Dirk Schuster said on Sky.

Darmstadt currently sit 11th in Bundesliga, and -- with a four-point lead on the relegation playoff place -- are in a good position to play in the top league for at least one more season.

According to kicker, several unnamed Bundesliga clubs and at least four Premier League clubs are interested signing him for the new season, and Darmstadt will not stand in his way should he want to leave the club, to whom he is contracted until 2017.

Schuster: "Of course we to keep Sandro for as long as possible. But we will be open for talks, even more so because we know he will give it his all for the club until the last second."

Darmstadt, like all other Bundesliga clubs, were granted the playing licence for the upcoming season, but have to fulfil minor requirements and invest in the infrastructure and media working places.

"We are delighted with the positive decision," club president Rudiger Fritsch told kicker, adding that they were only granted the licence because of their plans for rebuilding measures at the vintage Bollenfalltor.