Naby Keita unlikely to sign new Leipzig deal
RB Leipzig sporting director Ralf Rangnick admits it's unlikely that Liverpool transfer target Naby Keita will sign a new contract.
The Bundesliga outfit are keen to give the Guinea midfielder improved terms after wrecking his hopes of moving to Anfield.
Keita’s current deal runs until 2020 and Leipzig want him to pen an extension that removes the £48million release clause which kicks in next summer.
“I am not currently assuming that we will be able to extend his contract prematurely,” Rangnick told Sport Bild.
“I can assure you that Naby is playing with us this season. All other scenarios also depend on how we do this season, how Naby plays himself and so on.”
Liverpool recently admitted defeat in their bid to sign Keita during the current window. They had a second bid of £66million rejected and were told by Leipzig that he wasn’t for sale at any price.
Keita is now likely to stay put for another 12 months before taking advantage of his release clause next summer. Liverpool will certainly look to trigger it.
Rangnick reiterated that Keita is going nowhere this month.
“It does not matter at all whether it’s 75million or 100 million Euros. We have not developed for five years so that we can lose one of our best players in the first Champions League year,” he added.
“That would make no sense. We want to be successful in sports.”
Source: Liverpool Echo
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