Alex Runarsson is expected to return to Arsenal in the summer, football.london understands. The Iceland international joined the Gunners from French side Dijon in 2020 for £1.5million.
Runarsson struggled for appearances since making the £1.5million move from Ligue 1 side and made several high profile errors which saw his game time even further limited. It prompted Gunners boss Mikel Arteta to spend an initial £24million to sign Aaron Ramsdale, who has now succeeded Bernd Leno as no.1 goalkeeper.
Leuven have an option to buy Runarsson beyond this season and talks are expected to get underway in the summer, although the Belgian side consider the current option figure to be too high for them. Runarsson has made 20 appearances for Leuven this season, keeping two clean sheets and conceding 32 goals.
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football.london understands that the Icelandic shot stopper is not in Arteta's plans and the club will look to either sell or loan him in the summer.
"I spoke to everybody: Edu, Mikel and Inaki [Cana, Arsenal's goalkeeping coach]," Runarsson told Goal in an interview after signing for the club. "They didn't have to convince me too much but I wanted to hear what their plan was for me because I am at a prime age as a footballer.
"That was important to me that they were thinking the same way I was. Everything happened fast. I did the medical and got on the train to Arsenal to finish the small details, sign and settle in. When you go into a big club then you need to settle as quickly as possible as they can't afford any errors."
