Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth has revealed that Arsenal are indeed in ‘advanced negotiations’ to pursue the signature of Bayer Leverkusen shot-stopper Bernd Leno.
The Germany international has been associated with the Gunners since the close of last season and talks are said to have progressed in recent weeks with the keeper failing to make his country’s World Cup.
As per Sheth, the north Londoners are closing in on yet another summer signing in the form of Leno.
The transfer fee has not been revealed but as per sources, the Gunners are likely to trigger the £22m release clause written into his deal.
“They are in advanced talks we are told with the Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper Bernd Leno,” Sheth is quoted as saying by The Daily Star.
Meanwhile, Sheth raised doubts over the potential future of goalkeeping duo Petr Cech and David Ospina, who have entered the final year of their respective contracts.
He added: “This does raise question marks over the futures of Petr Cech and David Ospina. Ospina and Cech are in the final years of their contracts, which is a big call as well. Would either of them want to stay if Leno comes in?”
Both Cech and Ospina have been linked with potential exits to Napoli and Fenerbahce this summer but the latter appears the most likely to leave the club, considering he has been playing a back-up role for the past three seasons.
Cech, on the other hand, has been the undisputed first-choice for the Premier League duties and judging by his recent change to the number one shirt, he may see through the final year of his Gunners deal.
Arsenal have secured just a single signing in Stephan Lichtsteiner on a free this summer but this is soon expected to become a second with a £16m deal for Borussia Dortmund’s Sokratis said to have been wrapped up.
With a limited £50m pre-sales budget, Unai Emery may yet sanction the exit of a couple of existing players to accommodate new recruits during the current transfer window.
