Liverpool transfer news: Stefan Kiessling fuels exit rumours after hinting he will leave Bayer Leverkusen

Striker unhappy at sitting on the bench

Tom Sheen
Monday 14 December 2015 09:27 GMT
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(Getty Images)

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Bayer Leverkusen striker Stefan Kiessling has strongly hinted that he has played his last game for the club, as he struggled to fight back tears after the club beat Borussia Monchengladbach on Saturday.

The 31-year-old is one of a number of players linked to Liverpool in January, with new manager Jurgen Klopp expected to reinforce his squad.

Kiessling has been Bayer's first choice since arriving at the club from Nuremburg in 2006, but the summer loan signing of Javier Hernandez from Manchester United has seen his playing time cut. Kiessling has started just 13 games this season, scoring five goals, while Chicharito has 17 goals in 18 starts.

Speaking after the 5-0 over Monchengladbach, in which he scored two goals and Hernandez a hat-trick, Kiessling had to hold back tears when being interviewed.

With the Bundesliga going on their month-long winter break from 19 December, Bayer played their last game at the BayArena until 30 January.

He told Sky Sport Deutschland: "I’ve got to be honest and say we’ll have to see.

"I’ve given it some thought and I will keep thinking about it. The situation is that of course I would like to be playing – I’ve been here for 10 years and love this club and everybody knows how happy I am here.

"I’ve got a pretty good relationship with the fans and of course also with the club. I love playing here and I love this club, and it’s overall a very, very difficult situation for me and everybody knows this.

"I want to be playing a bit of football at the end of my career and that is why I’ve got to give things good thought.

"I’ll speak to the bosses and see what the best solution is."

He was then asked about a move to the Premier League he refused to speculate: "I’ve been here nearly 10 years and always played and when you sit on the bench so often, then it does get on your nerves."

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