Stefan Maierhofer to return to Wolves as Duisburg cannot afford to make loan deal permanent

Stefan Maierhofer, MSV Duisburg

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Three days after he was forced to watch from the bench as his team lost the DFB Pokal 5-0 to Schalke, Wolves loanee Stefan Maierhofer has confirmed that he will leave Duisburg this summer.

Club director Brunho Hubner has admitted that the second division outfit will not pay the release fee needed to make his switch permanent, while the player himself has ambitions to play top flight football.

He had missed the last two months due to a metatarsal fracture, but believes he could have made an impact.

“It was clear that I could not play 90 minutes. I would have taken the risk myself, I had even taken painkillers,” Maierhofer said after the game.

The towering forward confirmed that the Pokal final was likely his last game at Duisburg.

“We have a great squad, MSV is a fantastic club,” he said. “But I have high standards for myself and want to play in the Bundesliga or even go back to the Premier League. My ambition is to play in the top tier.

“My time in Duisburg is probably over.”

Following the player’s comments, sporting director Bruno Hubner confirmed exclusively to Goal.com that the player’s release clause is too much for his club to pay.

“The contract will not be extended further. MSV Duisburg cannot pay the €1.5 million (£1.3m) release clause,” Hubner explained.

Maierhofer’s current deal with Wolves runs until 2012. Should he return to his parent club, he will play in the Premier League after the team avoided the drop on the last day of the season.