Goalkeeper Loris Karius will not be leaving Mainz when his contract expires.
Arsenal will not be moving to sign highly rated young goalkeeper Loris Karius on a free transfer at the end of the season, report the Daily Star, with the German international having confirmed that his future lies with Bundesliga side Mainz after signing a new three year contract with the club.
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Karius, who was due to be available for nothing in the summer when his old Mainz deal was due to expire, had been strongly linked with a move to Arsenal on account of his reputation as one of the most impressive young goalkeepers in European football and also recent friction between Gunners first choice Wojciech Szczesny and manager Arsene Wenger.
The Polish international was caught smoking in the showers following the defeat to Southampton, and subsequently fined and dropped, with David Opsina stepping into the team – but there had been some loud suggestions that former Manchester City trainee Karius would be the ideal man to offer a long term solution to Wenger’s goalkeeping position.
Karius, who is seen as the natural successor to Manuel Neuer in Bundesliga circles, will now continue his development with regular first team action at Mainz, who have continually punched above their weight since being taken into the top flight for the first time by Jurgen Klopp.