RB Leipzig CEO wants to keep United transfer target Amadou Haidara

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RB Leipzig’s CEO has told fans that he is hoping to find a way to remove Manchester United transfer target Amadou Haidara’s release clause.

Ever since Ralf Rangnick has been appointed interim boss at Manchester United, several Leipzig players have been linked with a move to Manchester.

None more so than midfielder Haidara [The Times], who was brought to RB Leipzig from Red Bull Salzburg by Rangnick in 2019, who reportedly has a £33million release clause in his contract.

The Sun recently reported that Rangnick has been in contact with Haidara’s agent Volker Struth, and a deal is described as ‘all but done’.

However, at a conference on Wednesday, Leipzig’s chief executive Oliver Mintzlaff was asked for an update on Haidara’s future by Leipzig fans.

Speaking on Haidara via RB Live, Mintzlaff said: “Doudou [Haidara] is one of my favourite players, I told him today.”

Mintzlaff said he was keen to keep the Malian because he fits Leipzig “perfectly”, but he was aware of Rangnick’s interest in one of his former players.

Mintzlaff added: “Of course, it’s also a player Ralf Rangnick loves.”

With the club’s former sporting director and manager keen on reuniting with Haidara, Mintzlaff revealed that he was maintaining close contact with Volker Struth, who also represented Dayot Upamecano and Timo Werner, both of which secured big-money moves away from the Bundesliga giants.

Haidara told BILD in 2019 that he “dreams” of playing at Old Trafford one day, but it seems Mintzlaff is willing to do everything in his power to retain the club’s star box-to-box midfielder.

Mintzlaff told the conference that Leipzig is trying to “create a different situation” regarding Haidara’s contract and they are working on finding a way to eliminate the 23-year-old’s “exit scenario”.

With Amadou Haidara’s exit clause still active, Mintzlaff’s comments could prompt Rangnick and Manchester United to act quickly.

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