Transfer Centre

Ralf Rangnick: 'New Naby Keita contract is unlikely'

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 02 August 2017

RB Leipzig director Ralf Rangnick admits that he does not expect Naby Keita to sign a new contract with the club, but reiterates that he is not for sale this summer.

RB Leipzig sporting director Ralf Rangnick has admitted that it is unlikely that Naby Keita will sign a new contract at the club.

Keita has been persistently linked with a move to Liverpool this summer, but the Reds are now expected to wait until next year to make another move, having been told that the Guinea international is not for sale at any price.

A clause in Keita's contract means that he could be available for £48m next summer and, while reiterating that the midfielder will not be sold this year, Rangnick does not expect Keita to sign an extension.

"I am not currently assuming that we will be able to extend his contract prematurely," he 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.

"It does not matter at all whether it's €75m or €100m. We have not developed for five years so that we can lose one of our best players in the first Champions League year. That would make no sense. We want to be successful in sports."

Keita's current contract expires in 2020.