Hertha pin hopes on loan star Gekas
Thursday, December 17, 2009
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Hertha BSC Berlin have signed Greece striker Fanis Gekas on loan from Bayer 04 Leverkusen for the second half of the season with a view to a permanent move in the summer if they avoid relegation.
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Hertha BSC Berlin have signed Greece international Fanis Gekas on loan from Bayer 04 Leverkusen for the second half of the season. The Bundesliga's bottom side aim to sign the 29-year-old on a two-year contract in the summer if they avoid relegation.
Top scorer
Gekas was the Bundesliga's top scorer in 2006/07 with 20 goals for VfL Bochum 1848 in his first season in Germany on loan from Panathinaikos FC. Gekas, who spent the second half of 2008/09 on loan at Portsmouth FC, was also the leading scorer from Europe in 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying with ten goals for Greece.
Sukuta-Pasu loan
Meanwhile, Hertha have lent teenage striker Richard Sukuta-Pasu – a member of Germany's 2008 UEFA European Under-19 Championship-winning squad and now an U21 international – to 2. Bundesliga side FC St. Pauli until summer 2011. Hertha are through to the last 32 of the UEFA Europa League after beating Sporting Clube de Portugal 1-0 on Wednesday to finish as runners-up in Group D.