Liverpool dealt transfer blow as RB Leipzig CEO insists Naby Keita and Emil Forsberg will not be sold this summer

Liverpool have been dealt a blow in their attempts to sign the two Bundesliga stars

Klopp will be disappointed with this latest development (Getty )

RB Leipzig’s head honcho has emphatically ruled out selling any of the club’s stars this summer – much to the disappointment of Liverpool.

The east German club were the Bundesliga’s surprise package last season, finishing second in their first season since winning promotion from the second-flight.

They have qualified for the Champions League for the first time in their history, with their participation in next season’s tournament rubber-stamped by Uefa this week.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, a number of the club’s stars have been linked with lucrative moves away from the club this summer.

Dynamic midfielder Naby Keïta, who won frequent comparisons to N’Golo Kante for his superb performances last season, has been repeatedly linked with Liverpool, as has German international Timo Werner.

Liverpool have also been linked with the Swedish winger Emil Forsberg – but RB Leipzig CEO Oliver Mintzlaff has insisted that his club will not be selling any of their young stars this summer.

“It would be negligent to sell one of our key players now,” he told Bild.

“Emil and Naby are extremely talented and developing players. We are glad that we are able to keep up with their development as a club.

“And now we can prove ourselves in the Champions League in the coming season.”

Forsberg and Keita will not be sold this summer (Getty)

Mintzlaff added that, despite interest from a number of different clubs, Leipzig had not yet received any actual offers for their players.

“There are no concrete offers,” he said.

“But let's admit: Of course they have aroused great interest through their performance. This is normal. But we do not deal with that.”