Report: Bayern Munich star wants to join Arsenal this summer | OneFootball

Arsenal transfer latest as Goretzka weighs next move

Leon Goretzka’s future has drifted into open water. According to Bild, the Bayern Munich midfielder will not see his contract renewed this summer, prompting a scramble among Europe’s elite.

“His contract, which expires in the summer, will not be extended,” the report states plainly. At 31, Goretzka finds himself at an intriguing juncture, no longer central in Munich yet far from surplus to the broader European market.

Photo IMAGO

Atletico Madrid, Arsenal and AC Milan are all said to be monitoring developments. Yet the most unexpected enquiry may have come from closer to home.

Leverkusen explore ambitious move

Bild report that “Bayer Leverkusen have made enquiries with Goretzka’s advisers and examined the framework of a possible transfer.” The scenario is complicated. “The starting position is considered complicated,” not least because the midfielder is “currently leaning towards a move to England.”

Finances present another barrier. His salary of “well over ten million euros per year” would stretch Leverkusen’s structure. Still, “there has been no fundamental rejection.”

Leverkusen’s thinking is clear. The club intend to mount “another assault on the top,” echoing their Double campaign of 2023-24. For that, a “strategically strong midfielder” is required, someone capable of setting tempo and imposing authority.

Photo IMAGO

Midfield leadership in focus

Sporting need underpins the interest. After a strong third place at the winter break, Leverkusen faltered in the new year, “primarily due to a lack of leadership structure on the pitch.” The absence of a central orchestrator such as Granit Xhaka, now at Sunderland, has been keenly felt.

“In the current squad, no one has fully closed this gap,” Bild note. Captain Robert Andrich offers industry, Aleix Garcia shapes possession, Alejandro Grimaldo assumes responsibility, but the dominant midfield figure remains elusive.

For Arsenal, this is where intrigue deepens. Experience, physicality and European pedigree are assets that translate. If Goretzka does seek England, north London may feel a natural destination.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

Goretzka represents a profile that blends experience with intensity. At 31, he would not be a long term project, but he could be a short term accelerator.

The notion that he is “leaning towards a move to England” will raise eyebrows. Arsenal have sought greater midfield depth in recent seasons, particularly when navigating tight 2-1 margins against elite opponents. Leadership in high pressure matches often separates contenders from nearly men.

There are questions. Wages of well over ten million euros per year demand careful calibration within the existing structure. Arsenal’s recruitment model has prioritised value and upward trajectory. Goretzka would be about immediate impact rather than resale.

Yet experience in Champions League knockouts carries weight. A squad chasing marginal gains may view him as insurance, composure and authority in one package. If the deal aligns financially, supporters would see logic rather than sentiment in such a move.