Ibrahim Keita turns down new Wolves deal

Wolves prospect Ibrahim Keita's future is up in the air after he turned down a new contract.

The powerfully-built 19-year-old striker, whose two-year agreement expires this summer, has rejected a new deal over the same timeframe.

Keita, who arrived from French club Saint Marcel four years ago, is one of the most highly-rated players in the club's academy and was challenging for a first-team place until recently.

But he is currently excluded from Under-21s duty while his future remains unresolved.

Head coach Kenny Jackett is unsure why the former France Under-16 international has rejected his new deal.

"At the moment he's turned his contract offer down," said the boss.

"The club's door is still open to him and Kevin Thelwell's dealing with it.

"But I'm disappointed because there's a lot of people who have put quite a lot of work into him.

"I'm quite surprised he's turned it down but it's his right to do that."

Keita is yet to make a senior appearance but was twice an unused substitute last season, for the Johnstone's Paint Trophy penalties win over Walsall in September 2013 then for the 2-0 win against Notts County in February 2014.

Jackett stressed he was unaware of interest in the burly centre forward and denied Keita was under an ultimatum to sign his contract to play for the club again.

"There's not any other club involved that we know of at this stage anyway, so he's not suddenly set to go," said the boss.

"But with the ongoing contractual situation we haven't played him.

"It's just a question of him agreeing with a contract.

"I wouldn't necessarily say he won't play. If it's right for us to play him, we will.

"We just feel, during this period, there's been one or two players we've wanted to look at as well.

"Those opportunities and those places are, quite rightly, very competitive."

Jackett stressed the ball is very much in Keita's court, and is concentrating on looking at other prospects such as Donovan Wilson, signed from Bristol Rovers in January, and Bradley Reid, who could cost them £200,000 from Wrexham.

"Ibrahim's shown potential but if it's not right for him here we'll work away with somebody else," he said.

"Where he sees his future is up to him and he's got to do what's right for him."

Only 13 months ago Jackett was talking excitedly about Keita's prospects after he enjoyed a prolific scoring run at Under-18s level.

"At Under-18 level it's pretty hard to stop Keita," said Jackett.

"His goalscoring record has been terrific and we hope it continues.

"I've taken him on a few trips with the first team, made him 19th man and he's got out on the pitch for the warm up just to get that type of experience which helps."

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