Arsenal to bin Bernd Leno because he ‘doesn’t mix with anyone’ behind the scenes – pundit
Frank McAvennie has suggested that part of the reason Arsenal are willing to let Bernd Leno go this summer may be because he “doesn’t mix with anyone” behind the scenes.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-West Ham striker claimed that he is uncertain as to why else the Gunners would let go of “a talent like that”.
According to talkSPORT on Thursday (14 July), the 30-year-old has asked the club to lower their asking price for his services to £11million.
The goalkeeper is understood to have urged the Londoners to drop their valuation as a “mark of respect” to enable him to secure a move to Fulham.
The Germany international currently has one year left on his contract at the Emirates.
But the shot-stopper has travelled with the squad for the pre-season tour of the United States despite his desire to leave.
When asked if he thought that meant Leno could be staying at Arsenal, McAvennie told Football Insider: “He’s going to be playing in a couple of friendlies so people can have a look at him.
“If he says to the manager I want to stay then there’s no better time to have a look at him than when you go away on a preseason trip.
“The bond the players get with the coaching staff, going away for a week or a couple of weeks, that bonding session does you for the whole season.
“Leno might want to play but he’s not part of the team because he doesn’t mix with anyone. I think he’s a talent, I think the only reason they would sell him is if he wanted to go. He’s got to make up his mind.
“I can’t see the manager wanting to sell a talent like that for no reason. You don’t know what’s going on behind closed doors because he’s a talent so I don’t know why they’d sell a talent like that unless he’s going to be out of favour. If so they’ve still got to get him fit in pre-season.
“If he’s out of favour then it doesn’t matter what he does in preseason that won’t change, he won’t play at the start of the season.
“They might have him over there and play him just to get him sold.“
In other news, according to an expert, Arsenal have reached ‘final decision’ over Kieran Tierney as new details emerge.