Arsenal confirm midfield deal and prepare ‘mega-money offer’ to sign Serie A bruiser
Arsenal have confirmed their longest-serving star has penned a new contract extension, while reports in Italy claim a ‘mega-money offer’ is being readied for a Serie A centre-forward.
Arsenal’s squad has experienced great upheaval since technical director Edu took charge. Players who have survived the Brazilian’s overhaul are few and far between, but Egypt international Mohamed Elneny is among them.
In fact, the 30-year-old is Arsenal’s longest-serving star at present having initially joined from Swiss side Basel in 2016.
Elneny has gone on to make 155 appearances primarily in the engine room. Starts have been infrequent following Thomas Partey’s arrival, while a knee injury currently has him sidelined indefinitely.
Nonetheless, Elneny clearly remains an important part of Mikel Arteta’s squad at large after Arsenal rewarded the midfielder with a one-year extension.
Elneny’s deal was due to expire at season’s end, though he’s now under contract until the summer of 2024.
The news was confirmed via Arsenal’s official website, with Elneny quoted as saying: “I’m so happy, I love this club and our supporters so much and I’ll give everything to help us be the best we can be, every day I’m here.”
On being our longest-serving player, Elneny added: “It makes me so proud to have represented this amazing club since 2016.
“The spirit and togetherness we have in our squad right now is so positive and I’m so happy I have extended my contract.”
Arsenal preparing striker bid
Elsewhere, reports out of Italy are talking up a big-money Arsenal move for a fearsome forward.
La Repubblica (via Football London), state Arsenal and Real Madrid have emerged as the primary contenders to snatch Atalanta hitman, Rasmus Hojlund.
The Denmark international, 20, was a €17m signing from Austrian side Sturm Graz in the summer.
Hojlund stands at a towering 6ft 4in tall and wasted little time before displacing Duvan Zapata and Luis Muriel.
Hojlund has been Gian Piero Gasperini’s preferred choice at centre-forward thus far and has returned seven goals and two assists in Italy.
Combined with the returns in the eight matches he played for Sturm Graz before his late-August transfer, Hojlund is operating at better than a goal contribution every other game this season.
FL state Arsenal are ‘interested’ in signing the bruising frontman and are ‘considering preparing a mega-money offer’ ahead of a summer switch to north London.
Calciomercato shed further light on Hojlund’s situation, claiming Atalanta ‘won’t give any discounts’ on the transfer fee given he’s only just signed.
A figure of €50m (approx. £44m) could be enough to seal a deal, though Calcio add Napoli could provide competition in the event Victor Osimhen is poached in the same window.
The Nigerian ace is a known transfer target of Manchester United.
