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Bayern Munich considering Bernd Leno as Manuel Neuer replacement
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- Bayern Munich considering Bernd Leno as Manuel Neuer replacement
(Reuters)
Tom Masters explains Bayern Munich's interest in Bernd Leno .
German giants Bayern Munich are considering a move to sign Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno as a replacement for Manuel Neuer , according to Bild .
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Neuer, who will be 41 in March, has made 603 appearances for Bayern since joining them from Schalke in 2011 and has been a key part of both of their Champions League-winning sides in 2013 and 2020 and has also won 13 Bundesliga titles.
But it is expected that after 15 years in Munich, Neuer's time may be coming to a close.
And it would appear that his departure from Bayern's No.1 could directly affect Fulham .
The Bundesliga champions have already got a ready-made replacement in the form of 23-year-old Jonas Urbig , who has already played 34 times for Bayern.
But the club are eyeing up a player with experience to help out with goalkeeping duties and to further aid Urbig's development.
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And, according to the German outlet Bild, that player is Fulham's shotstopper, Bernd Leno.
Leno joined Fulham in 2022, after spending four seasons with Arsenal, and he has played in every match for the last three seasons.
The German has become a pivotal part of the Cottagers team, initially under Marco Silva and now under Alvaro Arbeloa and has played in 161 matches for the West London side.
But Leno's contract comes to an end at the end of this season and, at the age of 34, Fulham may not decide to extend his deal by the extra year that they are entitled to do.
That would allow Bayern to secure a deal to bring in a player who has vast experience in the Bundesliga, having spent seven seasons at Bayer Leverkusen between 2011 and 2018, on a free transfer.
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According to the article, Leno is open to the move, although he is not the only one who Vincent Kompany is considering to fulfil the role of experienced understudy.
Fulham do not have to do anything until closer to January regarding Leno, who will be allowed to speak to other clubs once his deal has fewer than six months left on it.
By then, they may have a better idea on what next season will look like, with the club currently engaging in a relegation battle after a tricky start to the season.
Leno has been an excellent club servant at Fulham and would be a loss should he go this summer, but the Cottagers may decide that it is time to invest in a younger option, much like they did in the summer with the exits of the likes of Harry Wilson and Raul Jimenez.
It is very early stages with this deal, but very much one to monitor over the coming months.
