Bayern Munich are reportedly interested in Arsenal custodian Bernd Leno as they look to replace Manuel Neuer.
According to The Sun, Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno is on Bayern Munich’s radar as a long-term replacement candidate for Manuel Neuer. The German international, who was once considered as one of the best goalkeepers in the world, is currently 33 years old and has been marred with injuries lately.
Neuer missed a lot of action in recent times due to various injuries and with age not on his side, the Bayern hierarchy are forced to take a call deciding his and also the club’s future. And, as per the current rumours going around in media outlets, it looks like Schalke’s Alexander Nubel and Arsenal stopper Bernd Leno are shortlisted as Neuer’s possible long term replacements at the club.
Nubel has caught the eyes of Bayern hierarchy with his lofty performances for Schalke in the last two seasons. Whereas Bernd Leno, 27, is more a experienced goalkeeper, who can easily slot in the current Bayern system. Leno has prior experience of playing in the Bundesliga and is also Joachim Low’s third-choice in the German national team, behind Neuer and Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Arsenal are going through a tough phase in Premier League as Unai Emery’s men recently lost 2-0 against a high flying Leicester City. The Gunners are currently sixth in the Premier League table and are currently sporting a negative goal difference.
However, Leno’s inability to keep clean sheets for Arsenal in the league does not bother Bayern as it seems. The 27-year old currently has managed to keep two clean sheets out of a possible 12 in the league this season.
Despite all the interest, Arsenal are pretty clear that they won’t let Leno leave the Emirates as the German custodian only joined the North London outfit last year from Bayer Leverkusen and since then he has impressed everyone at the club with his performances.
Neuer is still looking to get his rhythm back and will improve from here after his and Bayern’s difficult start to the season. But the Bavarians also need to think about their future and in that case, Leno can be a great option. The 27-year old is experienced and can play the ball out of the back.
But, despite all the interest from the German champions, it won’t be easy to lure Leno out of North London. Moreover, with the German champions looking at a long-term option, Alexander Nubel has shown enough promise to be a more viable option for the Bavarians. It remains to be seen if they act on their reported interest in Arsenal’s Leno come next summer.
