Leipzig must qualify for next Champions League to keep Olmo, Xavi
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RB Leipzig need to qualify for the next Champions League if they want to keep Xavi Simons and Dani Olmo beyond the season, sporting director Rouven Schröder believes.
"It improves our basis if we can offer players this stage. It is essential with Xavi but also with Dani Olmo. It is simply the measure of all things," Schröder told a podcast of the Bild paper.
A top four finish in the Bundesliga is required to play in the next Champions League, and Leipzig are currently fifth, one point behind Borussia Dortmund but already seven adrift of third-placed VfB Stuttgart.
Leipzig were narrowly eliminated in this term's Champions League by record winners Real Madrid, 2-1 on aggregate, in the last 16.
Spain international Olmo has a contract until 2027 but reportedly a €60 million ($65.5 million) release clause. He has said he would like to return to boyhood club Barcelona one day.
Dutch youngster Simons is on a season-long loan from Paris Saint-Germain without a purchase option. Leipzig will hope for another loan deal but Simons is also to be a key figure of a new-look PSG team after Kylian Mbappe's expected summer exit.
Schröder said "it is not realistic" to sign Simons on a full contract, even if they generate a big fee for Olmo.
