Celtic launch audacious pre-contract bid for €10m midfielder as Bundesliga star makes transfer decision on future
The Hoops have made a ‘concrete offer’ to the player ahead of parting ways with the German side at the end of the season
Celtic have put forward a pre-contract offer to Austrian international Xaver Schlager after confirmation that he has rejected the chance to sign a new deal at RB Leipzig.
The 28-year-old, whose contract at the Bundesliga club is due to expire at the end of the season, has turned down the opportunity to extend his stay at the Red Bull Arena following several rounds of discussions with club officials.
It was announced on Friday evening that Schlager will depart Leipzig this summer and the Scottish champions have wasted little time in submitting a concrete offer to the player for next term.
€10m-rated Schalger is expected to have a number of options on the table, having recently been linked with a move to Italian giants Juventus and clubs in England. But Celtic are hopeful of luring him to Glasgow after failing to bring him in towards the latter stages of thr January window.
The former Red Bull Salzburg and Wolfsburg ace is likely to earn his 50th cap for his country during next month’s international window and will remain a key member of the Austrians World Cup squad.
Follow our GlasgowWorld - Celtic Facebook page to get all the latest news stories on the Hoops
Announcing the outcome of talks over a contract extension, a Leipzig statement read: “RB Leipzig and Xaver Schlager will part ways at the end o the 2025/26 season. Following several open and respectful discussions between the two parties, the midfielder has decided to not extend his contract at the club, which was set to expire on 30th June 2026.
“The Austria international joined the Red Bulls in 2022 from VfL Wolfsburg. Since then, he has featured in a total of 97 competitive games for the club, scoring four goals and providing nine assists. Schalger lifted both the DFB-Pokal and the DFL-Supercup with RBL in 2023.”
Why Celtic target has chosen to quit Bundesliga club this summer
Leipzig sporting director Marcel Schafer commented: “We dedicated a lot of time and effort over the course of several meetings to trying to persuade Xaver to extend his contract with us. However, of course we accept and respect his decision to pursue a new challenge, especially as the whole process was characterised by open and honest discussions.
“Over the last three-and-a-half years, Xaver has played a key role at RB Leipzig and always gave his all on the pitch. We owe him a debt of gratitude and naturally wish him all the best for his next chapter.
“Our focus remains on what lies ahead and, together with Xaver, we will do everything we can over the coming months to achieve our goals this season.
Xaver Schlager exit RB Leipzig exit decision
Schlager told the club’s website: “My last three-and-a-half years at the club have been marked by several unforgettable moments, in particularly our DFB-Pokal and DFL-Supercup triumphs in 2023. I feel very at home here, both at the club and within the team. That’s why I really appreciate the efforts the club and its management team have put into our discussions.
“Ultimately, what won out for me is my desire to experience and try something new. It wasn’t a rejection of RB Leipzig, but rather a decision to pursue something new. Anyone who knows me will know that I will give my all for this club, our fans and our shared goals until the final whistle of my last game. My priority is to close this chapter of my life at RB Leipzig in a positive way!”