Arsenal: Mohamed Elneny the perfect sale candidate

Arsenal are reportedly in talks with Galatasaray regarding the possible sale of Mohamed Elneny. The Egyptian is the perfect type of player for the Gunners to be looking to offload.

The Arsenal squad is ‘heavy’. That is not my belief. That is the opinion of Arsene Wenger. After agreeing to a controversial new two-year deal thanks to a remarkable FA Cup triumph over Chelsea, Wenger, when asked about his intentions for a crucial summer transfer window, without committing to any approaches or strategies that he may or may not employ, heavily implied that sales should be expected.

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Wenger’s implication was that the squad consisted of too many middle-weight players. There were too few top quality options for him to turn to and too many progress-blockers, who prevented the natural surge of youthful talent that he has always encouraged and strived for.

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However, as August quickly approaches, we are still awaiting the more prominent of these anticipated sales. Other than those whose contracts expired and were assumed departures, there have not been any significant exits bar Wojciech Szczesny’s transfer to Juventus, which was inevitable given his two successive loan spells at Roma. We are still waiting for Wenger to swing the axe definitively.

There have, though, been several different players linked with an exit. Jack Wilshere, Calum Chambers and Kieran Gibbs have all been mentioned as potential departees, with all three reportedly the subject of offers from a number of clubs. But the latest name to be mentioned with an exit is Mohamed Elneny.

The Egyptian, who has been a steady, reliable, solid performer for the Gunners, is at the heart of discussions with Galatasaray over a possible switch. Whether a deal will be agreed upon or not remains to be seen. Nonetheless, Elneny is the perfect type of player who Arsenal should be looking to sell.

In describing the squad as ‘heavy’, Wenger was not simply alluding to the fact that he had too many players at the club. Recruitment was, and is, still necessary. But it was needed in a very specific fashion: quality, and not quantity.

Elneny is a quantity player. He is a perfect squad member. Versatile, intelligent, consistent and dependable. But he will never have the upper-tier quality to inspire a Premier League winning midfield.

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And that is what Arsenal are in need of. They are short of the truly elite level players. The difference makers. The game changers. The title winners. That is not who Elneny is and it is why he is the perfect type of player to be sold this summer.