Report: Arsenal set to sign Bayer Leverkusen's Leno for €22M
Arsenal is expected to rubber-stamp a €22-million (£19.2-million) deal for Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper Bernd Leno, according to the Guardian's Fabrizio Romano and Ed Aarons.
Leno, who isn't part of Germany's World Cup squad in Russia, could cost an additional €3 million if certain bonuses are achieved.
Petr Cech's position in goal is now under significant threat. An error-strewn 2017-18 season severely dented confidence in the former Czech international, leading to rumours of an upgrade between the uprights.
Leno, 26, has earned admiring glances from some of Europe's top clubs over the past few years. Napoli was even linked with the German shot-stopper as a replacement for Pepe Reina earlier this year.
He would become Arsenal's third signing of the Unai Emery era following the arrivals of Stephan Lichtsteiner and Sokratis Papastathopoulos. Sampdoria midfielder Lucas Torreira is also set to join the Gunners for around £25 million.
A product of Stuttgart's academy, Leno made his debut with Leverkusen as a teenager in 2011, keeping clean sheets in each of his first three matches. Only Manuel Neuer has posted more shutouts than Leno in the German top flight since the start of the 2014-15 campaign.
He developed a reputation for his fearlessness and competence on penalty kicks.