Arsenal willing to miss out on £12.8m transfer windfall despite clear Mikel Arteta stance

Arsenal are willing to miss out on a £12.8million pay day by refusing to sell goalkeeper Bernd Leno in January, according to reports. Leno has lost his place as the Gunners’ number one after the club signed Aaron Ramsdale from Sheffield United in the summer.

Leno began the season between the posts for the north London side but conceded nine goals in three Premier League games as the Gunners sunk to the bottom of the table.

Following the first international break, Ramsdale was thrust into Mikel Arteta’s starting line-up and has quickly established himself as a key player for the side.

Ramsdale has been in scintillating form since forcing his way into the team and has kept six clean sheets in 10 games in all competitions.

Arteta patently views the 23-year-old as his number one and Leno could now look to force a move away from the capital during the January transfer window.

Leno is currently back-up to Marc-Andre ter Stegen for Germany and won’t want to risk losing his place in his country’s World Cup squad next year due to a lack of game-time at club level.

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After dropping Leno in September, Arteta admitted he wasn’t able to guarantee any of his shot-stoppers a regular starting place.

“What we want to do is empower performance and ask them to train, behave and play the best possible way,” Arteta said.

“How can I guarantee somebody something? It wouldn’t make sense with what we are demanding them to do.”