Arsenal are preparing for life after Petr Cech and want Bayer Leverkusen’s Bernd Leno as the veteran goalkeeper’s long-term successor at the Emirates.
According to The Sun, Arsenal are readying an offer to bring Bayer Leverkusen’s Bernd Leno to the Emirates as a possible long-term successor to the ageing Petr Cech. The claim comes after Arsenal have endured a horrible season defensively, where equal blame is placed on goalkeeping problems.
Arsenal this season have conceded more goals than any of their top six rivals. At a point in the season, the Gunners had conceded more goals than bottom side West Brom. Arsene Wenger is ready to address this particular issue in the summer and wants Sven Mislintat, head of recruitment, to sort out a deal for Bayer Leverkusen’s German international goalkeeper Bernd Leno.
Wenger is particularly aware of multiple interests in the keeper and hence wants to wrap a deal as early as possible for the German. With rumours of interest from Real Madrid as well as from Liverpool and Napoli in the Bayer star, Wenger wants the club to act fast, and are ready to pay as much as £25 million for his services.
Bernd Leno is thought to favour a move to one of the big clubs to boost his chances of representing Germany more prominently. Currently, the shot-stopper is Germany’s third-choice behind Manuel Neuer and Marc-Andre ter Stegen in the pecking order.
Leno has represented Bayer Leverkusen for seven years now and has made clear his intentions for another, more significant challenge. The goalkeeper, 26, has interested the many clubs following him with some fabulous and consistent displays for Leverkusen over the years.
Arsenal, on the other hand, are in a tricky situation with their current top choice goalkeepers. Petr Cech, who recently recorded his 200th Premier League clean sheet is ageing, and David Ospina has been far too inconsistent to become the no.1 choice for the club. Both keepers have a year left on their current deals, and there is no indication yet that the club will offer either of them an extension.
Bernd Leno, at 26 years old, offers a long-term solution to Arsenal’s goalkeeping problem which has seemingly remained unsolved. The German keeper has ambitions, and although Arsenal were linked with Stoke’s Jack Butland in recent weeks, someone Sven Mislintat doesn’t consider good enough for Arsenal, the club might go for Leno as the ultimate solution.
The Gunners’ were linked with another German keeper, Timo Horn of FC Koln, but that interest has cooled down of late. Bernd Leno, for his price tag, as well as experience in Bundesliga and Europe, may resemble as a more viable option for Arsenal in their pursuit of a top class keeper.
