Julian Brandt has ruled out a transfer to Bayern Munich, insisting he will stay at Bayer Leverkusen to help the club recover from a disappointing season.
The winger's father and agent had to deny reports a move to join Bayern had been agreed in April and now the 21-year-old himself has revealed he will be staying put.
Brandt, who is with Germany at the Confederations Cup, feels partially responsible for Leverkusen's poor 2016-17, the club slumping to a 12th-place finish and head coach Roger Schmidt being sacked in March.
And the prospect of the World Cup in Russia next year will not force Brandt to jump to a bigger club to boost his hopes of selection.
"My stomach as well as my mind tell me that the right moment for a transfer is not there yet," he said to Kicker.
"I am still young, but also in my fourth year - I feel responsible for the bad season. I therefore see it as my duty to bring the club back where it belongs and for me that means among the top six.
"Of course there are players who say a year without European football ahead of the World Cup is a reason to change clubs.
"But a transfer to a bigger club is also taking a risk one year ahead of the World Cup. You have to settle in there and possibly you don't get so much game time."
