Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta wants to keep Mohamed Elneny around until the end of the season, according to the Athletic.
Sticking around?
Elneny has just months remaining on his Arsenal contract and it seems highly unlikely that he will be offered new terms.
But Arteta apparently feels that keeping the Egyptian around and then letting him go on a free transfer may be the best option for the club to take.
Elneny may not have featured regularly for the Gunners this term, but he remains rather key to their squad depth, in Arteta’s opinion.
The latest update is interesting, as there has been claims that there is a deal in place to sell Elneny.
Deal already agreed?
Sporx said just three weeks ago, that Galatasaray had already agreed a move with the Arsenal midfielder ahead of the January transfer window.
It was also said in Fanatik that Elneny had told Gala that he would like to join them and leave Arsenal.
Now, whether Arteta’s apparent stance has changed things remains to be seen.
What is clear though is that Arsenal wouldn’t be raking in millions for Elneny in January.
Given his lack of game time, and the limited months remaining on his deal, any fee that they do get is only likely to be minimal.
And if Arteta wants him kept around, it may be worth sacrificing the small amount they could raise to ensure that their manager has all the tools he feels necessary to compete.
At the moment Elneny is behind the likes of Thomas Partey, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Albert Sambi Lokonga and Granit Xhaka in the pecking order at the Emirates Stadium.
But if there is an injury crisis, Arteta may be called into using the defensive midfielder again.
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