Arsenal signal interest in RB Leipzig’s Amadou Haidara

Rumors linking RB Leipzig midfielder Amadou Haidara with a move to the Premier League are cropping up again. It looks increasingly less likely that Haidara’s Bundesliga club RB Leipzig are interested in extending with the Malian international beyond next season. Much of this has to do with a pending transfer the German Red Bulls are set to complete soon. 

Virtually all major German footballing media sources are currently reporting that young Dutch midfield talent Ezechiel Banzuzi has passed a Leipzig medical. The 20-year-old is set to be introduced as a €16m signing ahead of next season shortly. The 27-year-old Haidara – who does maintain an estimated market value of €20m – is thus expendable on a contract valid through 2026. 

Whether or not the Saxons wish to part with their long-term player remains to be seen. Haidara has amassed 155 top flight appearances for RB over the past seven seasons, including 24 league deployments this year. In any event, the competitive situation in midfield – with Haidara, Kevin Kampl, Nicolas Seiwald, Arthur Vermeeren, the injured Xaver Schlager, and the on loan Ilaix Moriba – heats up with Banzui’s arrival. 

Africa Foot reports that Arsenal maintain interest in Haidara. Sport Bild notes that Haidara is among the professionals who absolutely have no future with the club. Haidara – large part because he’s never played outside of the RB system before in his career – has often seemed averse to a switch. At this stage in his career, however, his perfective is surely different.