Premier League giants Arsenal could sell Bernd Leno to Benfica for £9 million but the German’s £80,000-a-week wages are a major problem for the Portuguese outfit, as reported by Record.
Arsenal’s recent transfer activity certainly paints the picture of a club making a concerted effort to trim the fat from a bloated squad.
And while Edu and Mikel Arteta have faced plenty of criticism for doing just that, a slimmed-down roster lacking depth and competition all-but certain to miss out on Champions League football, the Gunners’ wage bill certainly looks a lot healthier these days with Sead Kolasinac, Shkodran Mustafi, Soktratis, Mesut Ozil, Henrihk Mkhitaryan and co little more than a distant memory.
Pablo Mari, Lucas Torreira and Ainsley Maitland-Niles could follow Ozil out the door, while Mohamed Elneny, Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah are also out of contract.
Benfica want Arsenal’s Bernd Leno
Following the arrival of Matt Turner from New England Revolution, few at Arsenal will stand in Leno’s way either. Especially with the Germany international, a £19 million signing from Bayer Leverkusen, set to become a free-agent in the summer of 2023.
“You can’t rule anything out,” Leno, who has played just four league games since the arrival of Aaron Ramsdale, tells Goal.
“Of course, there are always approaches (from other clubs). My agency and I are keeping an eye on the situation.”
Following the appointment of Leno’s former Leverkusen coach Roger Schmidt, Benfica appear to have emerged as the most likely destination for a man in need of regular first-team football if he’s to force his way into Germany’s World Cup squad.
Portuguese publication CM Jornal backs up Record’s claims. They add that Arsenal may be willing to listen to offers of around £9 million, meaning the Gunners stand to re-coup half the fee they paid Leverkusen in 2018.
Leno must take a pay cut if he wants to reunite with Schmidt at the Estadio da Luz, however. His current £80,000-a-week wages are ‘unbearable’ as far as Benfica are concerned.
Interestingly, Leno criticised Schmidt’s famously risk-heavy approach following the German’s departure from the Bay Arena. Leverkusen’s reckless high-line often left him exposed between the sticks, after all.
“I’m satisfied with the way we’re presenting ourselves at the moment. We’re trying to play football,” Leno told RP Online at the time. “(Under Schmidt) we didn’t build up (possession) for three years.”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
