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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Mark Walker & Gavin Berry

RB Leipzig star blanks contract talks ahead of Rangers showdown as German side's problems mount

In-demand RB Leipzig star Konrad Laimer has refused to pledge his future to the club, ahead of the Europa League showdown with Rangers.

Rangers must overturn a 1-0 deficit from the Europa League semi-final, first leg in Germany at a packed Ibrox to reach what would be their second European final in 50 years.

Leipzig have been rocked after losing their automatic Champions League spot following two Bundesliga losses in a row.

Their defeat on Monday night at Borussia Monchengladbach also ended a sequence of eight away wins in a row in all competitions.

Laimer, their 24-year-old Austrian international defensive midfielder, has been linked with big-money moves to Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund this summer.

And he's revealed he will consider his future at the end of the season after admitting he's sought advice from Chelsea star Timo Werner and Bayern Munich ace Marcel Sabitzer - who both left RB Leipzig for huge fees.

He said: "When you have friends and colleagues who have taken such a big step like Timo and Marcel, then it's good to talk about their experiences.

"Getting information is helpful, but I make decisions myself. I concentrate on myself, not on the path of others.

"Every player and every situation is different. What happened to one player doesn't necessarily have to happen to the other. Sometimes it also depends on what kind of guy you are.

"I'm not going to talk about extending my contract at RB Leipzig either because it's such an important stage of the season. That could cause unrest and I only want to concentrate on our important games coming up.

"That's why I'm finishing the season now and then I'm thinking about what my next step is. That could go in any direction.”

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