John Brooks' future at Hertha Berlin is very much in doubt. The club would like to sign the United States defender to a new contract and hope to do so before Christmas, but if they cannot then they will explore selling him, according to Kicker.

Brooks' current contract expires in the summer of 2017 so it makes sense that Hertha would be trying to get him on a new deal. If he gets to the summer on this contract then Hertha would have to either sell him on the cheap -- because they would have no leverage with him a year from leaving on a free -- or give him the chance to play out his contract then get no transfer fee should he leave. Clubs rarely like to let players get to the final year of their contracts and they're doing what they can now to ensure Brooks does not.

It's unclear what wages Brooks is on now or what Hertha is offering in the new contract. The negotiations come at a good time for Brooks, having started the club's last four matches. He's played well, scoring a goal and defending expertly to draw the praise of those in the team.

Hertha has been good to Brooks and it is the only club Brooks has ever known. He came up through its academy, making it to the deserve team and then the first team. When he was 19 years old, he made his first team debut and helped them get promoted to the Bundesliga. He's been a key member of the club ever since, flashing his considerable talents and having magnificent stretches, but also battling inconsistency.

It's no surprise that Hertha want to keep Brooks. He's an academy product and a good player. Moreover, he's only 22 years old and capable of so much more. Ideally, he would remain part of the club and become the defensive stalwart he's capable of. If he does, then he's the linchpin of the Hertha defense or they're able to sell him for much more than they would sell him for now. But if he doesn't sign a new contract then Brooks could be on the move in the near future.