According to a recent report by the Sun, Bayern Munich are plotting a move to secure the services of Arsenal keeper Bernd Leno after identifying him as a potential replacement for Manuel Neuer. The Bundesliga champions are worried about their no. 1 goalie’s form and are looking to replace him with a more capable option (via the Sun).
Leno’s Stats This Season Could Be A Bit Misleading
The Bayern keeper has struggled with injuries and has endured a poor run of form this season. Hence, it is no surprise that the Bavarian giants are hoping to recruit an ideal replacement for the German goalie, and Leno fits the bill perfectly.
Even though the Arsenal keeper is behind Manuel Neuer and Marc Andre ter Stegen in Joachim Lowe’s German national team, there is no denying that Leno has enhanced his reputation after moving to North London from Bayer 04 Leverkusen in the summer of 2018.
The 27-year-old has featured in 12 matches for the Gunners this term, conceding 17 goals while keeping two clean sheets on all fronts. He has not made a great start to this campaign, but there is no denying that the German keeper is capable of pulling off a few world-class stops when his team needs him the most.
Leno has made an average of 25.3 passes and 2.3 long balls per game with a pass success rate of 71.1% in the Premier League (stats via whoscored). He is a reliable presence in between the sticks so Arsenal cannot afford to lose him if they are to turn their fortunes around for the better in the coming years.
What Are The German Keeper’s Best Attributes?
Leno has fast reflexes which help him pull off some vital stops for his side. He can read the game well and is also very good with his positioning on the field. The German custodian has a safe pair of hands and can distribute the ball accurately out from the back.
Why Arsenal Cannot Afford To Part Ways With Leno
However, Leno still has a lot of room for improvement and has the potential to perform better if he is surrounded by capable defenders around him. The likes of David Luiz and Sokratis Papastathopoulos has failed to provide enough protection for the German goalie, which explains why he has allowed so many avoidable goals at the back.
The Gunners cannot part ways with an accomplished goalkeeper like Leno as they would find it difficult to bring in a suitable replacement. Therefore, the North London outfit should not entertain any offers for their primary keeper in the future as he has the potential to become an Arsenal great if he can continue improving his game with each season.
