Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper Bernd Leno appears on the cusp of joining Arsenal this summer after dropping a transfer hint on social media.
Earlier on Wednesday, Sky Sports claimed that the Gunners are in advanced talks for the 26-year-old and Leno has now indicated that a move could be imminent based on his social activity.
@Bernd_Leno liked a post linking him to #Arsenal on Instagram pic.twitter.com/JvHRZeUeaJ
— Osman (@OsmanZtheGooner) June 13, 2018
Whilst the sources in England have yet to confirm an agreement, German outlet SportBild has gone to acknowledge that a £22m deal has been reached between both clubs and it may only be a matter of time before an announcement is made.
Leno had initially been tipped to leave Leverkusen for Napoli during the previous summer transfer window but the move was blocked after the club’s inability to sign a replacement.
However, this time around, the Bundesliga outfit have been able to acquire a suitable replacement in Lukáš Hrádecký from Eintracht Frankfurt and this is widely expected to end Leno’s seven-year association with the club.
Should a deal go through, Arsenal are likely to trigger the £22m release clause written in the keeper’s contract and this is likely to take a hefty chunk from the club’s limited £50m budget.
Nevertheless, Unai Emery may be able to recoup at least half of that sum with the potential sale of David Ospina, once he returns from the summer World Cup in Russia.
Barring the second half of the 2014/15 season, the Colombian has played second fiddle to Petr Cech and he is certainly not expected to remain at the Emirates as the third-choice keeper next term.
