Bernd Leno is one of a number of players the media has claimed will be sold or demand to leave this summer but, according to the player himself, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
The media have suggested in recent weeks that Bernd Leno could be on the way out of Arsenal this summer. He was listed by The Athletic as one of the players who wants out, and various sources suggest the club are targeting replacements.
Despite problems that were reported earlier in the season around Arsenal’s choice of goalkeeping coach, Bernd Leno has said definitively that he is not interested in leaving Arsenal this summer, contrary those reports.
Leno told Sky Sports last week that he’s still happy at Arsenal, and he’s now told the German media something similar.
Leno has a better save percentage than Manuel Neuer at Bayern Munich.
Read on for more Leno stats
“I don’t want to flee here, I feel good and want to be successful again with Arsenal,” he told German broadcaster Sport1.
“Arsenal are a big club, which is extremely underestimated in Germany, there are many Arsenal fans all over the world.
“I still have a two-year contract and hope to play in the Champions League again with Arsenal.
“It is also clear that at some point in my career I want to do something different. So far I’ve played for two clubs.
“Maybe I’ll get the urge to play in another league again. Maybe in the south. But there is time, I’m still getting to the top goalkeeping age. But my focus is on Arsenal.
Leno didn’t deny that Arsenal aren’t in the best of positions right now, but he insisted that gives them a chance to rebuild, and he doesn’t ever feel regret over his transfer.
“Personally, I also think it’s great in London. My wife feels good, everything fits.
“We’re a long way from the Champions League at the moment,” Leno continued. “We will most likely not be in the Europa League next season either, so the club are trying to build something new.
“We can fully concentrate on the league next season and dare to make this new beginning.
“I’ve never regretted the move. Not even at the beginning when I sat on the bench for the first few games. I wanted to gain experience abroad, also as a person, and the Premier League is the coolest league. I’ve always followed this league.”
Bernd Leno stats
The German, who has certainly enjoyed more positive performances than negative over the last two seasons, something few of his teammates could say, arrived at Arsenal in the summer of 2018 and, as he referenced, still has two years left on his current Arsenal contract.
Leno currently earns around £100,000-per-week (£5.2m-per-year), is valued at around £22.5m, which is exactly what Arsenal paid for him in 2018.
He has a better save percentage this season than Manuel Neuer at Bayern Munich.
The 29-year-old has also played more this season than any other for Arsenal, totalling up 33 games and 2,951 minutes so far compared to the 30 and 2,649 last season and 31/2,835 in his first.
Leno has also conceded fewer league goals this season than in his other two at Arsenal (36 vs 39 vs 42). In fact, this is his best season in terms of goals conceded since his second with Bayer Leverkusen in 2012/13 when he was just 21.