Bernd Leno could leave Premier League strugglers Arsenal on a free transfer next summer with Serie A champions Inter Milan eyeing the German international, as reported by Tuttosport.
Not even the irrepressible Samir Handanovic can defy Father Time for all of eternity.
The long-serving Inter glovesman will be 38 this time next year and, while Inter might have put off replacing him this summer, the Nerazzuri are already planning for life without a man who moved to the San Siro when Mateo Kovacic, Esteban Cambiasso and Diego Milito were still wearing black-and-blue.
Those well-documented financial problems mean Inter are not going to break the bank on an Alisson Becker, an Ederson Moraes or a Gigi Donnarumma.
Instead, Tuttosport believe that affordable alternatives will be the order of the day, meaning the likes of Andre Onana and Germany international Leno – both of whom will be free agents in 2022 – may soon be receiving their fair share of calls from mysterious phone numbers beginning with a ‘+39’ area code.
Is Bernd Leno leaving Arsenal for Italy?
“I am very happy at the club (but) I don’t know what will happen in the future. I am open to everything. Maybe for a new adventure or to stay at Arsenal,” Leno said, via the Standard in April.
If the former Bayer Leverkusen glovesman was hoping to cast some doubt on his future at the Emirates Stadium, he most certainly succeeded.
Arsenal’s miserable start to the new season – Saturday’s 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Manchester City would have been even more humiliating if it wasn’t for Leno’s cat-like reflexes – will have done little to convince the 29-year-old that extending his contract would be the right call.
At least Arsenal look well placed to deal with Leno’s potential departure.
In Aaron Ramsdale, the Gunners have already invested £24 million in a man who looks every inch a future long-term number one while Arthur Okonkwo, who has his fair share of admirers in North London, could step up to the breach as second-choice.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
