Newcastle United have been dealt a potential blow if they had any intention of following up reported interest in signing Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno.
According to Sky Germany's Florian Plettenberg, the 29-year-old shot-stopper won't leave the Gunners this month and will stay until at least the end of the season.
The Magpies have been linked with a move for Leno as Eddie Howe aims to bolster his squad before Monday's deadline.
Martin Dubravka has been Howe's first-choice keeper since the latter joined the club in November, starting the last nine Premier League matches.
Karl Darlow and Freddie Woodman had spent some time in net earlier in the campaign, but it seems as though the Slovakian has cemented himself as the No 1 on Tyneside.
With 18 months left on his current deal at Arsenal, it doesn't look like Leno has a long-term future at the club right now due to the form of England international Aaron Ramsdale.
After starting the first three league games this season, Leno lost his place in the side to Ramsdale for the 1-0 win over Norwich City back in September and he hasn't looked back.
Ramsdale has played in every top-flight game since, with Leno featuring just seven times in all competitions and his lack of game time has prompted a potential move away.
His last appearance came in the FA Cup third-round defeat at Nottingham Forest earlier in the month, and with Arsenal now out of every competition apart from the league, he is set to struggle for minutes.
Although the Gunners are expected to keep Leno in the current transfer window, it is understood that transfer in summer is more likely and Newcastle have a 'good chance' of landing him if they stay in the Premier League.
United are currently a point from safety towards the bottom of the division but face 16th-place Everton immediately after the winter break on Tuesday, February 8.
A win over the Toffees could move them outside the relegation zone for the first time since September and survival would help persuade targets, such as Leno, to join the summer.
During his time at the Emirates Stadium, Leno has made over 100 appearances and helped the Gunners to lift the FA Cup in 2019/20, although he missed the final through injury.
The former Bayer Leverkusen shot-stopper has kept 36 clean sheets at Arsenal and played an integral role in their run to the Europa League final in his first season at the club.
But he could be set to leave at the end of the season, with the Gunners supposedly interested in signing USA international Matt Turner as his replacement.
