Leicester City are lining up a move for Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno as a potential replacement for skipper Kasper Schmeichel.
Kasper Schmeichel, 35, the Foxes’ No.1, could leave the club to join OGC Nice having agreed personal terms with the French outfit. The Denmark international has spent 11 seasons with Leicester City and has helped the club win the Premier League and FA Cup.
The veteran shot-stopper has just a year remaining on his current deal at the King Power Stadium and has yet to reach an agreement over fresh terms with the club. As things stand, discussions between Leicester and Nice over a fee have yet to take place. However, the Midlands club are scouring the market for a replacement before approving Schmeichel’s departure. And Bernd Leno has emerged as an option for the Foxes.
Bernd Leno transfer-listed by Arsenal
Leno, 30, is on the transfer market having fallen further down the goalkeeping pecking order following Arsenal’s acquisition of Matt Turner this summer. He lost his first-team spot to Aaron Ramsdale last season and is expected to be third-choice behind Turner for the upcoming campaign.
The German shot-stopper has been on the radar of newly-promoted Fulham for the best parts of July. Fulham are yet to agree a fee with Arsenal, who are demanding a fee close to £15 million for their shot-stopper.
Leno has agreed personal terms with the Cottagers, as he apparently wants to continue living in London for the foreseeable future. However, Leicester City’s entry in the mix could change the dynamics for Arsenal’s wantaway goalie.
Is Leno a worthy replacement for Schmeichel?
Leicester City are currently the only Premier League club who have not made a signing this summer. Certainly, there is frustration around the club, and the last thing manager Brendan Rodgers would want is to lose his skipper just a week before the start of the new Premier League campaign.
Kasper Schmeichel has sent a clear message to the club’s hierarchy that he wants to leave after agreeing personal terms with OGC Nice. A fee between the two clubs is yet to be agreed upon, but Rodgers and co. have already stepped up their pursuit of finding a replacement.
Bernd Leno, in that regard, could be a solid choice to replace Schmeichel. Since arriving at Arsenal from Bayer Leverkusen in 2018, Leno has turned out 125 times so far. Having lost his place to Ramsdale last term, he is desperate to leave the Emirates Stadium to play regular football in a bid to book his place in the Germany squad for the Qatar World Cup.
A move to Fulham would be good, but if Leicester City are serious about their pursuit, the German shot-stopper might consider them.
I am Rohan Sengupta from one of the busiest cities in India, Mumbai. A Journalism graduate with a keen interest in sports, football is something I simply cannot live without and writing, discussing and analyzing the game is what I do 24*7.
