Arsenal target Bernd Leno has reportedly put the brakes on a potential deal with Napoli, and is now focused on finishing the season with his current club, Bayer Leverkusen.
The 26-year-old goalkeeper had been touted as a possible candidate to replace Petr Cech between the sticks at the Emirates, but his agent confirmed that negotiations had also been taking place elsewhere.
Uli Ferber told German publication Bild that whilst there had been interest in his client from Napoli, a move to Italy was being taken off the table:
I can confirm there were negotiations with Napoli, but we stopped them. Napoli are not an option. We’ll sit down after the season. Bernd’s full focus is now on the Hannover game, and that Leverkusen make it to the Champions League.
Joining Leverkusen from Stuttgart in 2011, Leno has made 231 appearances at the BayArena, and is expected to be included in Joachim Löw’s World Cup squad.
With a reported £22 million release clause in his contract, Leno still has two years remaining on his current deal.
However, an exit seems to be getting closer every day.
In addition to registered interest from Arsenal and Napoli, Atletico Madrid are also reportedly interested – a curious move, seeing as the German would almost certainly be a backup to shot-stopper Jan Oblak should the Slovenian stay at the Europa League finalists this summer.
