Agent of ‘tremendous’ PL midfielder says Newcastle wanted him in January, out of contract in summer

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Newcastle United tried signing Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny in January, according to the player’s agent.

The Magpies got five signings over the line last month, including midfielder Bruno Guimaraes.

Meanwhile, Arsenal allowed Ainsley Maitland-Niles to go out on loan to Roma in January.

Elneny’s Gunners contract expires at the end of the season and he’s very likely to leave the Emirates Stadium.

Alan Nazmy, the player’s agent, has now claimed that Newcastle tried signing him in January.

However, Mikel Arteta and the Arsenal hierarchy refused, asking Elneny to stay with the team until the summer.

“Mohamed Elneny doesn’t follow social media directly. But sometimes someone from his circle would send him news about him or criticism,” Nazmy told Mega FM 92.7, as relayed by KingFut.com.

“The player’s contract expires at the end of the current season. And Arteta rejected all offers that came for Elneny and asked that him to stay with the team.

“Newcastle United, Valencia, Lyon, and the largest known Turkish clubs, Galatasaray and Fenerbahce, wanted to sign Elneny. But in the end Arteta and the Arsenal management refused.”

In a further boost to Newcastle, Nazmy stressed he is not in discussions with clubs outside Europe for Elneny’s transfer.

“There are no official talks with Al Ahly [Egyptian club], and the question is illogical.

“Elneny still has the desire and ability to play in Europe. We only talk about that because Elneny played in Al Ahly’s academy.

“When asked about playing for Al Ahly, Elneny replied by saying he still has the ability to play in Europe.

“But after four years his performance will differ, and maybe he would have retired.

“He doesn’t want people to see him perform poorly and he wants to retire in Europe.”

Arsenal’s Elneny a great shout for Newcastle – TBR View

Elneny may have not been a regular in the Arsenal XI over the years. But he’s a solid midfielder with an amazing attitude and work ethic.

Several seasons ago, the Egyptian looked set to leave the Gunners. However, he worked hard to remain in the manager’s plans.

Arteta has shown he’s not afraid to freeze players out, or indeed offload them, if they don’t match his standards on and off the pitch.

To hear that he wanted to keep Elneny around right until his contract expires is testament to what a good character he is.

Indeed, Arteta has previously lauded the 29-year-old’s talent and attitude.

The Arsenal boss said back in November last year, as per Metro: “What Mo transmits through the team is special.

“He has this energy as a person, he goes in a room and he creates an atmosphere.

“Today I thought we needed that energy and that positive feeling he brings all the time and I think he was tremendous on the pitch.

“Obviously, I played with him and I know his qualities and what he brings to the squad.

“I like a lot players who have zero ego and they play for the team, they want to contribute whatever it is.

“Whether it’s one minute or 96 minutes, or just by being there and being all the time positive feedback and contribute to our culture.

“Mo is a person that is admired amongst everyone at the football club. I think now I expect a lot [from him] as a footballer, something that I always believed he had to do.”