RB Leipzig chief expects Laimer to stay despite Bayern interest
By Rune Gjerulff @runegjerulff
Despite reports linking him with FC Bayern, there is a high probability that Konrad Laimer will stay at RB Leipzig beyond the summer, according to RB Leipzig CEO Oliver Mintzlaff.
| Konrad Laimer. | Photo: Steffen Prößdorf, CC BY-SA 4.0 |
"On the one hand, the will of the players plays a role. On the other hand, the goals of the club are greater than individuals. 'Konni' Laimer is a very important part of our game, we do not want to let him go," explained Mintzlaff in an interview with Sport Bild.
"We have discussed internally what would have to happen for us to think about selling him. But you can assume that the probability of Laimer playing for us next season is significantly higher than the probability of him playing elsewhere."
Joining Bayern would give Laimer the chance to reunite with his former coach Julian Nagelsmann and former teammates Dayot Upamecano and Marcel Sabitzer, who all left Red Bull Arena to join the German champions last summer.
However, while Mintzlaff admits it's "flattering that the great FC Bayern are looking at us", he also emphasizes that Leipzig want to "take the next step" themselves. To do that, they need the quality of Laimer.
"We are competing with Bayern and don't want to strengthen them every summer," underlined the Leipzig chief.
Laimer's contract expires in 2023.