Fulham have reportedly reached an agreement with Arsenal to sign Bernd Leno, with his medical expected to occur soon.
According to David Ornstein of The Athletic, Bernd Leno could depart from the Emirates after Fulham and Arsenal reached an agreement over a summer move. The Cottagers are expected to pay £8 million for the German shot-stopper, and his medical could occur soon.
Bernd Leno will depart from the Emirates in the coming days, with the Arsenal outcast finally set for a summer exit. The German international has been chased by Fulham for a considerable period, and Marco Silva will land his preferred target in the coming days.
Both clubs were unable to reach an agreement over a fee despite lengthy discussions. Arsenal were initially unhappy with initial proposals and swiftly rejected an offer of £7 million plus £3 million in bonuses. However, by then, Fulham had already agreed on personal terms with Leno, with the Arsenal outcast being eager to remain in London, where he is settled.
However, an agreement has now been reached between the London rivals for a fee worth £8 million, which may include additional bonuses. The reported fee could be a fixed price Fulham might pay, and the German international could have his medicals scheduled for the coming week.
Bernd Leno will undergo medical tests and sign as new Fulham goalkeeper this week, personal terms are also agreed. Full agreement in place between Fulham and Arsenal, as per @Plettigoal – will be completed soon. ⚪️⚫️ #FulhamFC
Fulham wanted Leno over Neto as new goalkeeper. pic.twitter.com/Sr2VHb7IU9
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 1, 2022
Several other clubs showed interest in the Arsenal outcast, and he was even linked with a late move to Leicester City recently. However, Leno seems keen on the idea of joining Marco Silva’s Fulham.
Leno was Arsenal’s undisputed choice for the first three years of his spell after joining Arsenal from Bayer Leverkusen in 2018. However, the arrival of Aaron Ramsdale last summer changed his situation, with the England international now Mikel Arteta’s established No.1.
Leno started cup games and featured in four Premier League games last season. With the 2022 FIFA World Cup on the horizon, the German goalkeeper harbours hopes of featuring in Hansi Flick’s Germany squad. However, he needs regular game time to stand a chance to feature there, and he will be a sure starter for Fulham in the upcoming season.
Arsenal have already brought in Matt Turner as Leno’s replacement, with the American shot-stopper set to start the season as Ramsdale’s understudy. Leno will become Fulham’s fourth permanent signing in this window after the arrivals of Joao Palhinha, Andreas Pereira, and Kavin Mbabu, while Manor Salomon also joined on a one-year deal.
