Bayer Leverkusen coach Sami Hyypia has dubbed winger Sidney Sam the club's "future" and urged the BayArena management to tie down the 25-year-old to a new contract.

Sam has excelled at Leverkusen under Hyypia and was recently mooted as being a target for the Finn's former club Liverpool.

The Germany international has a deal which runs until 2015 with the Bundesliga side, meaning next summer it will have just one year left.

Hyypia has urged the club not to let such a situation develop and act to protect Leverkusen's future by re-signing Sam.

"I don't make the contracts, but the club know my opinion", he told German daily Bild.

"A player like Sam is important for the whole future of the club.

"If we keep our strong players, we are also attractive for new good players."

Sam joined Leverkusen in 2010, making the move from boyhood club Hamburg.

The winger has been capped four times at senior international level by Germany.

Source: InsideFutbol