Fortuna Dusseldorf are open to holding onto Manchester City goalkeeper Zak Steffen.
The American goalkeeper is already impressing in the first weeks of his season-long loan. Indeed, Steffen won rave reviews for his debut a week ago as Fortuna Dusseldorf shocked Werder Bremen 3-1.
Werder dominated the game, but Steffen's performance in his first competitive game anywhere in Europe,
Fortuna Dusseldorf chief Thomas Rottgermann told dpa via the Sueddeutsche Zeitung: "Unfortunately, we could not agree to a purchase option with Manchester.
"That does not necessarily mean that we lose Zack Steffen at the end of the season.
"You should not underestimate our tenacity."
Steffen, having been snapped up in January by City from Columbus Crew, has been loaned out to Fortuna Dusseldorf for the season. A fully fledged USA international, there were no concerns regarding UK work permit qualifications. However, City management felt the 24 year-old's development would be best served with a year in the Bundesliga.
And Rottgermann admits they're delighted with the early impact of Steffen.
He said: "Of course, we have discovered that he is an exceptionally good goalkeeper, which also shows why Manchester has signed him for a lot of money."
Steffen was between the posts on Saturday as Fortuna Dusseldorf suffered a 3-1 home defeat to German giants Bayer Leverkusen.
- updated August 26
