Hamburg - Rafael van der Vaart has not ruled out a contract extension at Bundesliga club SV Hamburg, the Hamburger Abendblatt daily reported on Saturday after a first round of talks. "There is a chance that I will stay in Hamburg," the daily quoted the Dutch international midfielder and Hamburg captain van der Vaart as saying after a meeting with sports director Dietmar Beiersdorfer.
"It was a very very good meeting. Now I must decide very carefully what I will do in the future."
Hamburg have likely offered van der Vaart a big pay-rise from his current salary estimated at 2 million euros (2.97 million dollars).
Van der Vaart came to Hamburg in 2005 on a contract until 2010, but can leave in 2009 for 1.5 million euros. This means that Hamburg must either sell him next summer if they want a big fee, or renew his contract. The current talks are about a deal until 2012.
Last summer Spanish top club Valencia offered 24 million euros for van der Vaart. The player wanted to leave for Spain but Hamburg dismissed the big offer, saying at the time he was not for sale.
