According to The Sun, Arsenal shot-stopper Bernd Leno is the subject of interest from Bavarian giants Bayern Munich, who have set their sights on the 27-year-old as a long-term replacement for the struggling Manuel Neuer.
Neuer, who is struggling with injuries and a dip in form, is still Bayern’s undisputed No.1 between the sticks but with the veteran’s illustrious career on the decline, the Bundesliga champions need a replacement.
Leno, though, is not Bayern’s first-choice when it comes to replacing Neuer, with the German heavyweights identifying Barcelona star Marc-Andre ter Stegen as the prime target for the throne. (h/t Sun)
Bernd Leno has shipped 17 goals in 12 appearances in the Premier League for the Gunners this term, keeping only two clean sheets in the process.
The 6-cap German international, who carded 304 appearances for Bayer Leverkusen across all competitions over the course of seven campaigns in the Bundesliga before completing a switch to Arsenal last summer, has only managed a mediocre tally of 11 shut-outs in 48 outings for the Gunners so far.
However, Leno has, indeed, been one of the most inspirational additions to Arsenal’s ranks since the arrival of Unai Emery.
The Gunners slipped down to 6th in the Premier League standings with a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Leicester City on Saturday night, with a listless and disjointed unit once again putting in a lacklustre performance bereft of any sort of creativity.
To that end, though, Bernd Leno was once again the pick of a bad bunch and a rare bright spark for Arsenal, as the German prevented his team’s demise on a number of occasions with a supreme command of his penalty area.
With the Foxes looking head and shoulders above the Gunners, both in terms of quality and intensity, the visitors once again found themselves in sixes and sevens at the back.
However, Leno more than held his own amidst all the defensive chaos, as he has done so often this season.
His lion-hearted display between the sticks was a mere consolation in the end for the Gunners, who suffered their third league defeat of the campaign.
To put things into perspective, Bernd Leno is currently an indispensable component of Arsenal’s rather unsettled and disgruntled side and losing him to Bayern Munich would be an unfathomable loss that the Gunners simply cannot afford.
Arsenal’s grave defensive problems have loomed large throughout Emery’s tenure as the manager and judging Leno’s performances based on the number of clean-sheets wouldn’t be the wisest idea, after all.
The German has been called into action far too often for his liking, with several defensive combinations tried by the manager over the past twelve months failing to provide any kind of steel and stability to the side.
Suffice to say, Bernd Leno has been quite outstanding since his move to the Emirates last summer and with his present contract set to run until the summer of 2023, there is no reason why Arsenal should even think about parting ways with the German in the near future.
At 27, the £19.2m Arsenal star already boasts of plenty of top-level experience in his CV and a like-for-like replacement with a similar profile could cost the Gunners a fortune in the market, something that they can ill-afford given so many gaping holes in other areas of the squad.
With that in mind, Arsenal should do everything in their power to hold on to their undisputed No.1 amidst interest from the Bundesliga giants.
Everton is having a bad season so far, from their poor form in the league…
Communication is the heartbeat of any successful soccer team. On the field, amidst the flurry…
In the annals of football history, few names evoke as much reverence and admiration as…
Are you new to the world of football betting and would you like to take…
If you are into sports betting, staying ahead of the game is crucial. One way…
I have prepared some interesting and fun football facts for you, perfect for those who love the thrill of discovery almost as much as the excitement found at https://www.staycasino.com/. Like the unpredictable nature of casino games, these facts will surprise and intrigue you with unexpected twists and turns in the world of football. Here is the complete list of 40 interesting and fun facts about football. What are the most interesting facts about football? Football was invented in Italy, Messi is the highest-paid athlete, and the fastest a player has been sent off is 0 seconds! Stay ahead with these facts and impress with your knowledge. This collection contains many football facts that will surprise you. Tell your friends new facts they don't know. Interesting Facts About Football Every football fan should know these facts. You can also surprise your children with what they don't know! When was football invented? Modern football originated from the Florentine game of Calcio Fiorentino, played in the 14th …