Newcastle ‘hold conversations’ with Arsenal over loan deal for goalkeeper
Newcastle United have “held conservations” with Arsenal over the loan signing of their goalkeeper Bernd Leno, according to reports.
The former Bayer Leverkusen star joined the Gunners in 2018. They paid around £22.5m to sign him.
Leno was Arsenal’s number one goalkeeper for three seasons but he has fallen down the pecking order this term.
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Aaron Ramsdale signed for Arsenal last year and he is currently Mikel Arteta’s first choice ‘keeper. The Englishman has been one of the Premier League’s standout players during 2021/22 campaign.
Newcastle have already signed Kieran Trippier and Chris Wood this month from Atletico Madrid and Burnley respectively.
90min are reporting that the Magpies are “interested” in Leno. They are said to have “held conversations” with Arsenal with a view to the sides agreeing on a loan deal.
The report adds that this transfer would include an obligation to buy provided Newcastle avoid relegation.
Newcastle have also been linked with Real Madrid star Eden Hazard. Shaka Hislop cannot see anyone else signing the winger:
“I don’t quite understand this,” Hislop said.
“Listen, I understand Eden Hazard, especially with his history in the game. He feels he wants to go to a bigger European club than Newcastle, certainly right now.
“But given the money that he’s on and given how poor he has been, who’s that club? Who takes on Eden Hazard?
“There’s no big club that takes on Eden Hazard, so he has to look further down the pecking order.
“And the only club who right now can afford his wages is Newcastle United.
“So at least coming back to the Premier League gives him an option in a league that he knows well, that he excelled in, to put himself back in the shop window or whatever that may be.
“I just don’t understand it. What’s the upside in Hazard turning down this opportunity? I just don’t see one.
“At the very least I’d make the move on loan until the end of the season. Get an opportunity to play football again in a league that you know so well.
“And maybe it provides an opportunity for somebody to fall in love with you again.
“Because right now, who on earth is going to look at Eden Hazard right now, as he’s playing right now, with the money that he’s on, and say ‘you know what, I’m going to take a chance’? Nobody but Newcastle.”