German side RB Leipzig ended up being the surprise package of the Bundesliga this season, finishing second only to the all conquering Bayern Munich in what was their first season in the top-flight. With a young team packed full of talented, dynamic players, the challenge this summer for the Saxony club will be to not only build on their side for their sophomore campaign, but to keep their stars at the Red Bull Arena — a task that will be easier said than done with Liverpool reportedly willing to part with a ludicrous £50mil to secure the services of all action midfielder Naby Keita.
“We have decided that we will not sell any player from our starting line-up,” said Leipzig chairman Oliver Mintzlaff as quoted in the Times.”[Sporting director] Ralf Rangnick told this to our team at the end of the season,” he continued, underlining their commitment to hang on to their best players. “We will keep our team together and keep on developing.”
The Guinean played a key role in Leipzig’s impressive run, scoring 8-goals and adding 7-assists in 31-appearances this year — a campaign so strong that it earned him a spot in the Bundesliga Team of the Season. Keita, for his part, has not ruled out making a move this summer, but their ability to participate in the Champions League may have a massive influence on whether or not he stays in Saxony. UEFA has strict rules about clubs with close ties competing in it’s competitions during the same season which means that either RB Leipzig or Red Bull Salzburg, who are both owned by the mega-rich energy drink company, could be barred from taking their place in Europe’s premier club competition.
“We are a super exciting club,” said Leigpzig manager Ralph Hasenhuttl. “Naby sees how much the coach invests to make him better. If I take the celebrations as a benchmark, Naby will stay with us forever,” explained Hasenhuttl when asked by German media outlet Leipziger Volkszeitung whether or not Keita will still be at the Red Bull Arena next season. “You just don’t just leave a squad like ours.”
