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.

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

Man City have also been linked with West Ham United's Lucas Paqueta, but a proposed move for the midfielder is allegedly on hold as he is being investigated by FIFA and the Football Association 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 they may step up their interest in the Spain international in the final two weeks of the transfer window.

Leipzig are keen to keep hold of Olmo, who penned a new four-year contract until 2027 at the 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.

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Leipzig head coach Marco Rose recently refused to rule out the potential sale of Olmo to Man City, telling reporters: "There are too many rumours. At some point it's enough.

"We lost many players in the 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 "there is nothing" in the rumours linking him with a switch to the Etihad Stadium this summer.

Speaking to Bild, the Spaniard said: "There is nothing! I'm fully focused on the task in Leipzig, the Bundesliga, the Champions League and the [German] Cup.

"Man City are a big club – one of the biggest in the world. Josko [Gvardiol] went there. But I'm happy here."

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

The versatile attacker, who can operate as an advanced midfielder or in any position across the 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 the Bundesliga and won the DFB-Pokal.

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

Olmo was also on the scoresheet in Leipzig's 3-2 defeat at Bayer Leverkusen in their opening Bundesliga game of the new season on Saturday.