According to a report in the Athletic, Arsenal have finally decided to part ways with their spare goalkeeper Bernd Leno.
Fulham have been heavily linked with the German keeper for the past couple of weeks but the Gunners were reluctant to sell him in a cut-price deal.
Arsenal had paid £19 million for the keeper however, it looks like Mikel Arteta has finally decided to get rid of Leno in a deal which is set to be for £8 million.
The Athletic’s David Ornstein is claiming that personal terms have already been agreed between the keeper and Fulham and all that is remaining is the final contract details between the two clubs.
Romano has added that the 30-year-old is scheduled to have his medical at Craven Cottage sometime this 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
Should Arsenal be holding onto Bernd Leno?
Bernd Leno was the undisputed keeper at Arsenal up until the 2020-21 season but under Mikel Arteta, he has fallen way down the pecking order.
Arteta brought in Aaron Ramsdale last summer following which Leno managed to feature in only 4 Premier League games last season and right now, he’s of no use to the Gunners.
The 30-year-old acted as the backup keeper in the previous season but now that Arsenal have signed Matt Turner, there’s absolutely no need to hold onto Bernd Leno.
The North London side were hoping that Fulham would agree to pay more out of desperation but with the new campaign just around the corner, Arsenal are not ready to wait any longer. Also, the keeper has been pushing for an exit because he’s very inclined to join Fulham.
The keeper earns £100,000 per week at the club so it makes sense that Arteta has agreed to sell him off for a bargain deal rather than risk holding onto him for one more season.
He would have become a free agent next summer meaning Arsenal wouldn’t have gotten a single penny from his exit at the end of the 22/23 campaign.
