According to German newspaper Die Zeit, RB Leipzig hopes to prevent captain David Raum from leaving on a free transfer when his contract expires next summer. The club plans to open negotiations with the player's representatives this month regarding a contract extension. However, Raum has not explicitly stated his desire to stay long-term, and it remains uncertain whether an agreement can be reached between the two parties.

RB Leipzig sporting director Marcel Schäfer said: "We will definitely talk to David and his agent. We really want to extend his contract, and I have emphasized this many times. But this always requires the participation of all three parties."

The "three parties" Schäfer referred to are Leipzig, Raum himself, and the player's agency. Previously, Raum was not in a hurry to negotiate a contract extension. He initially wanted to focus on the end of the season, then shifted his attention to the World Cup and subsequent pre-season preparations.

The 28-year-old left-back has never explicitly stated his desire to stay at Leipzig long-term. Therefore, completing a contract extension could be a challenge for the club. If the two parties cannot agree on contract terms, the extension could fall through.

Raum also seemed keen to leave Leipzig during the recent transfer window. However, since losing his starting position in the German national team to Alphonso Davies, there were no sufficiently attractive options for him in the transfer market. Previously, Raum had also been linked with Man United, but the situation never progressed beyond speculation.

Raum joined Leipzig from Hoffenheim in the summer of 2022 for a transfer fee of 26 million euros. In his first season after joining, the offensive-minded defender experienced a difficult period, starting only 19 games. It was only after Marcel Halstenberg's departure that Raum gradually gained more playing time and established himself in the team.

Before the start of last season, Raum became Leipzig's captain. In the dressing room, he and Austrian player Christoph Baumgartner are among the team's most important core figures.

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