Liverpool target Naby Keita is unlikely to sign a new contract at RB Leipzig, admits sporting director Ralf Rangnick

RB Leipzig sporting director Ralf Rangnick has admitted he doesn't believe Liverpool target Naby Keita will sign a new contract at the club.

Keita has attracted interest from Liverpool this summer but Leipzig made it clear they would not entertain any bids for the midfielder - rejecting an offer from the Premier League club worth up to £66million. 

Liverpool have since ended their pursuit of the 22-year-old for this window after coach Ralph Hasenhuttl said he was not available for any price.

Naby Keita featured for RB Leipzig during the Emirates Cup pre-season tournament

Naby Keita featured for RB Leipzig during the Emirates Cup pre-season tournament

But while Rangnick is certain Keita will remain at the club for next season, he admits it could prove tricky to persuade the midfielder to sign a contract extension beyond his current deal, which expires in 2020.


'I am not currently assuming that we will be able to extend his contract prematurely,' Rangnick told Sport Bild via Goal.

'I can assure you that Naby will be playing with us this season. All other scenarios also depend on how we do this season, how Naby plays himself and so on.'

Leipzig capped off their rapid rise to prominence with a second-placed finish in the Bundesliga last season in their first ever campaign in the top flight - securing Champions League qualification for 2017-18. 

Ralf Rangnick said he didn't believe Keita would extend his current contract at the club

Ralf Rangnick said he didn't believe Keita would extend his current contract at the club

And Rangnick said the club will not entertain losing players they have spent years developing ahead of their debut Champions League campaign.   

'It does not matter at all whether it's £67million or £90million,' Rangnick added. 'We have not developed for five years so that we can lose one of our best players in the first Champions League season.

'That would make no sense. We want to be successful in sports.'

Liverpool have added three players this window - signing Dominic Solanke on a free from Chelsea, Andrew Robertson for £8million from Hull and breaking their transfer record to sign Mohamed Salah from Roma for £39million.