Hannover 96 has made the decision that Leo Weinkauf will continue to serve as the backup goalkeeper for the professionals. The negotiations for a new employment contract are on track. The 29-year-old has been under contract at the Maschsee since 2018, but has not yet appeared in a single league game for the professionals. Nevertheless, Weinkauf is one of the leading players and takes on an important role as a figurehead. It remains unclear who will be his successor in the upcoming season. The top candidate is 18-year-old talent Florian Hellstern from VfB Stuttgart. 96 patron Martin Kind has recently expressed open concerns, which did not go down well with the goalkeeper's camp. Weinkauf's future at Hannover 96 is therefore not yet clear. The decision is surprising, as the backup goalkeeper has already been officially released. The Lower Saxony team hopes, however, that Weinkauf will continue to be an important part of the team.