Arsenal reject Mohamed Elneny offer from Galatasaray

The transfer window may be closed in England but across Europe activity is still ongoing with Mikel Arteta facing interest in some of his players before the respective deadlines.

Midfield was an area of the squad for Arsenal that left plenty to be desired after their summer dealings. The decision to sign Granit Xhaka to a new deal having been inches away from moving him on permanently continues to rile many.

Albert Sambi Lokonga was the only arrival in that department and looks like being a brilliant piece of business for Arsenal. Unfazed by the occasion, his quality on the ball looks sharp and versatile, even if there are still teething issues with his defensive awareness.

Losing Dani Ceballos (gaining, more like) and Joe Willock, along with the unseen duo Matteo Guendouzi and Lucas Torreira, left the midfield far thinner than in the previous season albeit the club having no European football to contend with.

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Arsenal reject Mohamed Elneny offer from Galatasaray with Mikel Arteta’s side open to selling midfielder before Turkey’s transfer deadline

Ainsley Maitland-Niles ended up staying to provide some numbers in that area, while Mohamed Elneny was widely expected to stick around and see out his contract.

However, late interest from Turkey has materialised and with their window not closing until September 8, there could be some late activity.

As per football.london, there has been.

Arsenal have rejected an undisclosed offer for Elneny from Galatasaray, who are joined by Besiktas in keeping tabs on the 29-year-old.

If the Egyptian leaves there will be only Thomas Partey, Xhaka, Sambi and Maitland-Niles to take up the two central midfield slots in a campaign where Arsenal are hoping to be battling on three fronts for an extended period of time, so turning down that move makes sense.

That doesn’t mean Arsenal aren’t open for business, though. Indeed, the club are said to be open to letting Elneny go so long as the interested party comes in with an acceptable offer. What that could be for an ageing and exceedingly average midfielder with less than a year left on his contract is anyone’s guess.

Whatever it is, it apparently exists. That is agreed upon by Mark Mann-Bryans in a recent update, although he adds no official bid has been tabled, with Elneny due to stay barring a breakthrough. Sky Sports also weigh in and say contact has been made.

The issue remains that if Elneny is allowed to leave, Arsenal will be left with an injury-prone and AFCON bound Partey, a young and inexperienced Sambi, a hot-headed Xhaka (who at least stays fit) and a Maitland-Niles who hasn’t shown that he’s of the calibre to be featuring in Arsenal’s Premier League midfield.

In either case, this is all set up for an interesting climax.