Arsenal make ruthless Bernd Leno transfer decision

The post-mortem has begun. Arsenal are preparing for a fire sale without an extinguisher in sight. An exodus unlike any seen in decades at the club will take place as Mikel Arteta attempts to usher the Gunners into a new era. Hopefully a brighter one.

Fans have already scribbled down their ins and outs for the summer, with the former able to fit on a post-it note and the latter requiring a medieval scroll the fill out. There will be numerous incomings, for definite, but the outgoings will be far greater.

And it’s those departing that will prove crucial, as the funds accrued from them will then be reinvested straight back into signing players ideally better than the bang average ones allowed to leave.

Every organ of Arsenal’s frail body needs surgery, and that includes in between the sticks – that is not a euphemism.

Arsenal make ruthless Bernd Leno transfer decision ahead of summer window

As of yet no definitive answer has been made on Mat Ryan’s future although more frequent outings in the Premier League suggest Arteta may be wanting to get a good look of him in action ahead of coming to a conclusion.

Bernd Leno started in the 3-1 win over West Brom but were the Australian not left out due to sickness he may well have been given the nod once more.

So what is in store for Leno? The German will have two years left to run on his deal when the season concludes – that infamous contractually uncertain zone – and there has been no talk of an extension.

Furthermore, the 29-year-old’s recent comments didn’t just suggest, but said outright, that he’d be open to a new challenge elsewhere.

"“I’m very happy at the club. I don’t know what will come in the future, but I’m open to everything,” he stated, via Goal. “Maybe for a new adventure or to stay at Arsenal. Like I said, I don’t think about my future because two years is a long time. At the moment there are no conversations with the club or anything else.”"

Another season filled with individual errors – as well as usually superb displays otherwise – appears to have cast doubt over what may come, adding fuel to this already rising fire. Now, a decision has been made with Leno.

Arsenal Will Listen to Offers for Bernd Leno

Arteta made no bones about the need to be ‘ruthless’ in the summer window, a mantra that leans heavily towards those who will be leaving the club.

There are a large swarm of obvious candidates to be moved on, and while Leno is among that troupe for many supporters, he wouldn’t have been thought to be one of the first out of the door. However, Arsenal have to secure funding from somewhere and the guy who has been the best goalkeeper at the club since Jens Lehmann is not free from the chop.

As per football.london, Arsenal will listen to offers for the German along with the expected group of Hector Bellerin, Lucas Torreira, Matteo Guendouzi, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Sead Kolasinac. It’s stated such potential outgoings will be with the aim of raising ‘in excess of £60m’, which seems a low figure, even with the financial troubles facing sides.

Being available for transfer doesn’t mean an immediate sale since there needs to be a buying club involved, but selling Leno, who has carried this side numerous times since taking the No. 1 jersey, would be the ruthless actions this club has to take.

Can Arsenal do better than him? Eyes are already on Andre Onana – a delicate situation – which would cost £7m, whereas Leno arrived for £22.5m and would be hoped to garner a similar price.

There are unconfirmed murmurings of Leno wanting to leave Arsenal too, off the back of his comments, and at this stage moving the goalkeeper on with two years left to run and already sounding out a younger, cheaper replacement with bags of ability is among the right decisions to be making.

Those in charge of Arsenal have serious ground to make when it comes to reinstating belief in their vision and shaping the right future for the club. This would be a small step in the right direction.