Hoffenheim midfielder Christoph Baumgartner has said that he intends to stay at the Bundesliga club next season to continue his development.
Both Liverpool and Manchester United have been linked with the Austrian international in recent days but when asked about the interest being shown in him, the 21-year-old replied:
“My clear plan is to play for Hoffenheim next season. I definitely extended my contract in March with the intention to play here next season. I believe I have the biggest opportunity to develop further here. For me, that means playing consistently at a high level with more room for improvement.”
Baumgartner was in great form for Hoffenheim last campaign, and it has even led to some in the press to label him the next Michael Ballack. Whether he can live up to those expectations, we shall have to wait and see, but Liverpool will undoubtedly be keeping tabs on his situation.
The Reds have been tracking a whole host of midfielders this summer, in addition to Baumgartner. Porto’s Otavio is one player who has been mentioned regularly in press reports recently, while the likes of Borussia Monchengladbach’s Florian Neuhaus, Atletico Madrid’s Saul Niguez and Ajax’s Ryan Gravenberch have also been suggested as possible targets.
