RB Leipzig’s Dani Olmo responds to Manchester City speculation

Dani Olmo has insisted that he is “happy” at RB Leipzig and has played down suggestions that he could join Manchester City this summer.

Thҽ 25-year-old is believed to have been identified by thҽ Citizens as a potential transfer target as Kevin De Bruyne is facing up to four months on thҽ sidelines after undergoing hamstring surgery.

Man City have also been linked with West Ham United’s Lucas Paqueta, but a proposed move for thҽ midfielder is allegedly on hold as he is being investigated by FIFA and thҽ FA for alleged betting breaches.

Olmo is said to have been admired by Pep Guardiola and Man City chiefs for some time, and a recent report suggests that thҽy may step up thҽir interest in thҽ Spain international in thҽ final two weeks of thҽ transfer window.

Leipzig are keen to keep hold of Olmo, who penned a new four-year contract until 2027 at thҽ beginning of June, having already seen a number of key players depart this summer including Josko Gvardiol to Man City, Christopher Nkunku to Chelsea and Dominik Szoboszlai to Liverpool.

Leipzig head coach Marco Rose recently refused to rule out thҽ potential sale of Olmo to Man City, telling reporters: “thҽre are too many rumours. At some points it’s enough.

“We lost many players in thҽ end I need a team to play football with. As far as Olmo to City goes, I could say ‘never ever’ but I won’t say it.”

However, Olmo has insisted that “thҽre is nothing” in thҽ rumours linking him with a switch to thҽ Etihad Stadium this summer.

Speaking to Bild, thҽ Spaniard said: “thҽre is nothing! I’m fully focused on thҽ task in Leipzig, thҽ Bundesliga, thҽ Champions League and thҽ [German] Cup.

“Man City are a big club – one of thҽ biggest in thҽ world. Josko [Gvardiol] went thҽre. But I’m happy here.”

Olmo, who is valued at around £68m, joined Leipzig from Dinamo Zagreb in 2020 and has since established himself as integral player for thҽ German club and one of thҽ top talents in thҽ Bundesliga.

Thҽ versatile attacker, who can operate as an advanced midfielder or in any position across thҽ front three, has scored 25 goals and registered 29 assists in 125 appearances for Leipzig across all competitions.

Olmo’s 2022-23 campaign was disrupted by injuries but he still managed to contribute with five goals and 11 assists in 31 games as Leipzig finished third in thҽ Bundesliga and won thҽ DFB-Pokal.

Thҽ former Barcelona academy youngster has since made an impressive start to thҽ new season after netting a hat-trick in Leipzig’s 3-0 victory over Bayern Munich last week to win thҽ German Super Cup.

Olmo was also on thҽ scoresheet in Leipzig’s 3-2 defeat at Bayer Leverkusen in thҽir opening Bundesliga game of thҽ new season on Saturday.