Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno has revealed that the reasons behind his dropping as the club's number one were 'not performance related' as speculation over his future continues.
Leno started Arsenal's opening three games of the Premier League season, which just so happened to be the Gunners' worst start to a league campaign in 118 years as they lost all three, scored none and conceded nine in the process.
Following the recent international break, Leno was dropped in favour of summer signing Aaron Ramsdale, who has since kept his place between the sticks and recorded clean sheets in three of his four Arsenal appearances.
And German international Leno has now seemingly suggested he would be open to a move away as early as the January transfer window.
According to German outlet SportBild, Leno is already on the radar of Serie A champions Inter Milan, who view the 29-year-old as the ideal replacement for Samir Handanovic - entering the twilight of his career at 37.
The same report claims that Leno has been forced to put on a brave face and hide his frustration over the fact he has been dropped in place of Ramsdale.
The former Bayer Leverkusen 'keeper was reportedly sent into a 'frenzy' after he was informed he would be benched for the home clash against Spurs - during which Ramsdale pulled off one of the saves of the season so far to deny Tottenham's Lucas Moura.
Leno's anger stemmed from the lack of reasoning behind Arteta's decision, with the Spaniard rumoured to have changed his mind on who he would play in goal at the last minute.
"There was no clear reason why I was out, but it had nothing to do with my performance. He [Arteta] is the trainer, he decides. Of course, it’s difficult for me," Leno explained.
With the World Cup just over a year away and Leno recently enjoying a promotion to number one for his national side, he will need regular football at club level quickly.
As a result, Leno has refused to rule out a move away from north London after first arriving in the Premier League in the summer of 2018.
Inter Milan could make their first approach as early as the January transfer window, though a switch to the Italian side is not one he is considering at this point in time.
"London is very nice; Milan is not bad either and closer to my home Stuttgart," he said.
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"But I’m not seriously thinking about that yet. I feel comfortable at Arsenal and in London.”
He may well reconsider by the turn of the year, though Inter are also said to be sniffing round Ajax stopper Andre Onana, who was previously on Arsenal's radar.
"Only if nothing changes in my situation by winter would I have to think about things: what option do I have, how can I continue?" Leno added. "But I’m concentrating on my work in training; I can’t commit to anything else at the moment."
