Newcastle United’s hopes of signing Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno appear to be over before they really started as he prefers a return to Germany.
Newcastle are expected to push for a new goalkeeper this summer amid question marks over Martin Dubravka’s future.
Leno has been one of the hot names in the mix, with Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie claiming there will be summer interest.
Unfortunately for Newcastle, it sounds like a move to St James’ Park isn’t exactly Leno’s first choice this summer.
The Daily Star claim that Leno is ready to snub Newcastle and chase a move back to Germany instead.
Leno’s former club Bayer Leverkusen – who sold him to Arsenal for £19million back in 2018 – want to bring him back to the Bundesliga.
That seems a little curious when they already have a first-choice stopper of their own in Finland international goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky.
The last thing Leno would want is to make a summer transfer and end up being second choice with his next club.
There would be a risk of that with Leverkusen but certainly not with Newcastle, who would be able to immediately make Leno their first-choice stopper.
Leno, 30, had been first-choice at Arsenal until Aaron Ramsdale’s arrival from Sheffield in August changed everything.
The German has mostly sat on the Arsenal bench ever since, though did turn in a superb performance against Aston Villa last month.
With Matt Turner arriving from New England Revolution this summer, it seems that Arsenal are already preparing for Leno’s departure.
Arsenal will gladly shed Leno’s £100,000-a-week wages, but it sounds like Newcastle won’t be taking them on – leaving them to look at other goalkeepers like Dean Henderson instead.
Chelsea’s Kepa Arrizabalaga is another target, with Newcastle possibly giving up on Leno.
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