BERLIN, Sept 13 (Askume) – RB Leipzig is keen to increase its trophy haul this season but the club’s philosophy will continue to be to develop top young talent and not sell them, sporting director Marcel Schaefer said.
Leipzig, which is competing in the Champions League for a sixth consecutive season, saw Spanish international Dani Olmo join Barcelona for a transfer fee of more than 50 million euros ($55.44 million), a move that underlines the club’s reputation for developing young players.
In past seasons, the Saxon club has seen other young players leave to join some of the continent’s biggest clubs, including Josko Gvardiol (Manchester City), Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool) and Christopher Nkunku (Chelsea).
“Our philosophy is to support young, talented players, take them to the next level and sell them,” Schaefer said during a media roundtable this week.
“We want to make the club a focal point for top talents and bring them to Leipzig. Players want to come to Leipzig because they see the potential in the young top talents.”
“We are in the Champions League for the sixth consecutive year with a very young team,” he said.
Leipzig, who won consecutive German Cups in 2022 and 2023, retained 21-year-old Netherlands international Xavi Simons, a key transfer target for the top club.
They also renewed the contract of 21-year-old Slovenian international Benjamin Cesko.
Leipzig have made a strong start to the season with three wins in three games in all competitions, including a victory over Leverkusen that handed the champions their first league defeat in more than a season.
“We can do more, but this is always a good start and a basis to discuss things we have to improve,” said Schaefer, who took over this season after serving as Wolfsburg’s long-term player and sporting director.
“We are all athletes and we want to reach the highest level because I think it is possible for us to reach the highest level. We want to compete for championships in all competitions this season.”
Leipzig begins its Champions League campaign away to Union Berlin on Saturday and Atletico Madrid next week.
(1 USD = 0.9020 EUR)
