Jens Lehmann is in talks with Arsenal as Arsene Wenger attempts to bolster his goalkeeping options for the final months of the season.
The former Germany international left Arsenal three years ago and retired from football at the end of last season after a glittering career at club and international level. He has remained in close contact with Arsenal and returned to the club for six weeks to complete his coaching badges.
Wenger has now approached the goalkeeper about the possibility of signing a short-term deal and talks are understood to have been “positive”, although no deal has been done.
The 41-year-old was in Barcelona last week, commentating for German TV, as Arsenal crashed out of the Champions League.
The Premier League has confirmed the player could still be registered in time to be included in the Arsenal squad for the weekend game against West Bromwich Albion.
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Last Friday, the club asked the Premier League for permission to make an emergency loan signing to cover their goalkeeping crisis. Wojciech Szczesny, Arsenal’s first-choice goalkeeper, has been ruled out for six weeks after dislocating a finger while Lukasz Fabianski is also sidelined with a shoulder injury, leaving Manuel Almunia as Arsenal’s only fit senior goalkeeper.
“I am in London and so far have heard nothing of such plans, but you never know,” Lehmann said last week.
Lehmann spent five years with Arsenal and made almost 200 appearances for the club after his 2003 arrival from Borussia Dortmund.