FC Astana rules out Patrick Twumasi sale

FC Astana General Manager Sayan Khamitzhanov insists Ghana striker Patrick Twumasi is "not for sale" not until after the club's campaign in Europe this season.

The Kazakhstan Premier League leaders have been drawn with Scottish champions Celtic FC in the final play off of the UEFA Champions League with the first leg coming off next Wednesday.

Should the Blue and Yellows fail to make it to the group stages of the Champions League, they will move straight to the group stages of the Europa League.

"Both Twumasi and Kabananga have had a great season,'' Khamitzhanov told his club's website

''I am not going to tell lies – we have had proposals about both these players and that is entirely understandable because they have been very good for us.

''Some of the best clubs in Europe want them.

''But let’s be clear – they are both under contract until the end of 2018.

''Naturally, if we get an offer that we think is fair, we will talk to the clubs, but that won’t be happening until after our European campaign.

''Twumasi has done well in the Champions League and Kabananga was the top scorer in the Cup of Nations. They are quality players.

''But I want to reassure our fans – they won’t be sold while we are still in European competition.

''Everyone at the club is focused on the Celtic games and I can guarantee we will do everything in our powers to qualify.''

Twumasi has been on the radar of Turkish top flight side Bursaspor and other European clubs.