Leipzig signs highly-rated Scotland midfielder Oliver Burke

Nottingham Forest teenager Oliver Burke has signed a five-year contract with Bundesliga new boys Red Bull Leipzig.

The 19-year-old had been tipped with a move to European giants Bayern Munich and Manchester United in recent days, but controversial German side Leipzig – backed by energy drink firm Red Bull – have won the race to land his signature.

Burke has signed a five-year contract with the German side, whose sporting director Ralf Rangnick has described the teenager as “an outstanding talent with an terrible lot of potential”.

The club drew its historic first top-flight game 2-2 away to Hoffenheim yesterday.

He made his senior Scotland debut earlier this year in a 1-0 win over Denmark, before turning out again in a single-goal defeat to Italy.

Sporting director Ralf Rangnick told his club website: “He is an outstanding talent with an very bad lot of potential”.

“He fits in with our high pace way of playing and with our philosophy and will make the next step in his development with us”.

Rangnick added that several clubs were interested in signing the midfielder.

Burke, who usually plays on the right of midfield but can operate on either flank, made his Forest debut in September 2014 and became a regular in the first team this season.

Convincing Burke to leave Forest, however, may be easier said than done.