Arsenal are reportedly close to finding an agreement with Trabzonspor over the signing of Mohamed Elneny on loan for next season.

Mohamed Elneny with Besiktas (Photo via Nabd.com)
Mohamed Elneny with Besiktas (Photo via Nabd.com)

It was reported at the start of the month that the club had offered Elneny to the Turkish side and they were all expected to sit down last week to thrash out a deal.

Trabzonspor are looking for a player to replace John Obi Mikel who refused to return to the country after lockdown and asked to be released from his contract.

Elneny arrived at Arsenal at the start of 2016. Signed by Arsene Wenger from FC Basel for £11.25m, he never really looked like anything more than a squad player, at best.

A tidy midfielder, he was reliable but more function than form who only ever scored two goals for the club.

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 11: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal celebrates scoring the 2nd Arsenal goal with Mohamed Elneny of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Watford at Emirates Stadium on March 11, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 11: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang celebrates scoring the 2nd Arsenal goal with Mohamed Elneny during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Watford at Emirates Stadium on March 11, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Elneny’s Arsenal contract still has another two years to run on it and, with no buyer in sight, the club have no choice but to ship him out on another loan if they want to reduce their wage bill.

Elneny spent the season just finished on loan with Besiktas but it did not go well for him.

He was sent off in his debut, had to serve a three-match ban, wanted to leave the club before Christmas and then spent part of the season threatening to go on strike because of unpaid wages.

As a result, neither party, you’ll be surprised to learn, are interested in continuing their relationship.