Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno continues to be linked with a move away from the Emirates Stadium as we approach the final week of the January transfer window.
According to a recent report from 90Min, Newcastle United are interested in signing the Germany international this month on a loan deal.
football.london understands that Mikel Arteta has told Leno that he can leave the club before the end of this month's transfer window.
Leno was demoted to the Gunners' second choice goalkeeper earlier in the season and the form of Aaron Ramsdale has made him virtually irreplaceable.
So reports of Leno wanting to leave the Emirates this month hardly come as a surprise and his latest actions may hint that a departure could well occur over the next few days.
As per @chief_afc on Twitter, Leno signed a ball boy's shirt in the warm-up of their clash with Burnley at the Emirates and also waved at the crowd. Is that perhaps the German waving goodbye to the fans?
What has Leno said?
Speaking to Goal last year, Leno lifted the lid on his future at Arsenal and revealed that he is "open to everything", with now just 18 months remaining on his contract at the Emirates.
He said: "Not yet and at the moment it's not the time to speak about the future. I know that I still have two years left on my contract and I'm also 29. For a goalkeeper, that's not too old. I've still got some years to go.
"I’m very happy at the club. I don't know what will come in the future, but I'm open to everything. 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."
A few months later, in September, Leno addressed his future and insisted he felt comfortable in London, but hinted that he could feel different by January.
He said: "I'm not seriously thinking about it (his future) yet. I feel comfortable at Arsenal and in London. Only if nothing changes in my situation by the winter would I have to think about things: what option do I have, how can I continue?
"I am concentrating on my work in training at the moment. I cannot commit to anything else at the moment."
Leno added: "Maybe my family and kids are happy because they see me more, but I want to be playing in Europe and I want to be competing there, and every time I see the Champions League music, my stomach hurts.
"It is not something that I enjoy. We have to make the most out of it because we have more time during the week to prepare but certainly it is not where we want to be."
