RB Leipzig 'destroying the dreams' of Arsenal target Emil Forsberg by refusing his exit, claims agent

RB Leipzig must “live with the fact they are destroying the dreams” of Emil Forsberg, according to his agent, as the midfielder pushes for a move to Arsenal.

The Sweden international was a star performer last season as he helped Bundesliga surprise packages Leipzig finish second in the league and qualify for the Champions League for the first time.

Forsberg chipped in with 19 assists and eight goals over the course of the season, leaving both Arsene Wenger monitoring his situation this summer.

READ MORE: Pires urges Sanchez and Ozil to stay with Arsenal

While Liverpool are also interested, the Gunners are understood to be frontrunners for the 25-year-old but would have to part with more than £30m for a player whom Leipzig signed for a tenth of the price two years ago.

Leipzig sporting director Ralph Rangnick recently poured cold water on Forsberg’s sale to Arsenal or Liverpool when he insisted the German side would not sell any of their best players this summer.

This has not gone down well with his agent Hasan Cetinkaya however, who has lashed out at the club for forcing the midfielder to stay rather than grant him his “dream” exit as a thank you for his service to the club.

“I and Emil have always accepted the club and the contracts with them,” Cetinkaya said. When Emil went there, the ambition was to take the team to the Bundesliga and then the Champions League.

“He has been involved with them all the way and broke records in their shirt. Both me and Emil have spoken to the club about his ambition, his future and his dreams.

“They didn’t buy him for €15m, but for €3m and he signed a new contract and paid them back 10 times. They will have to live with the fact that they are destroying his dreams.”

Forsberg is not a priority for Arsenal at this moment in the transfer window however, with the club putting all their efforts into trying to tempt Kylian Mbappe to the club after he and Wenger spoke directly about his future over the phone, according to L’Equipe.

Alexandre Lacazette and Thomas Lemar are two others on Wenger’s radar.