Egypt fans want Arsenal star Mohamed Elneny to transfer to Newcastle after AFCON

Mohamed Elneny’s fans want him to take advantage of his fine form at the AFCON and move to Newcastle United before the January transfer window closes.

The midfielder has fallen down the pecking order at Arsenal, with Mikel Arteta favouring the pair of Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka in the centre of the park.

Elneny also has competition from youngster Albert Sambi Lokonga, who is viewed as a long-term midfield general by the club.

Elneny has only managed 10 games for the Gunners this season, with three of those coming in the League Cup, but clubs are continuing to monitor his situation.

Turkish side Galatasaray are long-term admirers of Elneny’s craft, while Besiktas - a club he spent the 2019/2020 out on loan with - are also interested in signing him.

But fans back home in Egypt want him to move north to Newcastle and prove that he can be a success in the Premier League.

“Clearly he is a good player and the only problem is that they don’t trust him at Arsenal, so for me I think Newcastle have money and need good players so his agent should get to work,” Mohamed Jalil, an Egyptian fan, told LondonWorld in Cameroon.

“He is the kind of player who wants to be trusted and loved so if I was him I would say thank you to Arsenal and go to a place where I can play more regularly and find his best form again.”

Arsenal signed Elneny in 2016 for around £5 million from Swiss outfit Basel, but despite starting well in North London, his time at the Emirates has been spent mostly as a backup to more established names.

He has managed just 74 Premier League appearances, scored one goal and registering four assists in the process.

Inside reports say that he is a fantastic team player, and it is understood that his persona has afforded him more time at the Emirates.

“We are winning the AFCON and one of the reasons we will win it is Elneny - he is good player and has what it takes to be in the Premier League,” Kamal Ibrahim, who has traveled from Belgium to Cameroon just to see Elneny play in flesh, told NationalWorld.

“But just like the other fans said, he needs to move and find a place where he is more cherished and given opportunity.

“Football is about confidence and players can only get confidence if they play well. He is not getting that at Arsenal.

“I don’t know if Newcastle want him but it would be a good move for him and he would get the minutes and everyone will see how great he is.”

Elneny was the best player on the pitch when the Pharoahs defeated tournament favourites Ivory Coast to progress to the quarter-final in midweek, and it would be no surprise to hear Egyptian calls for him to secure a move to a club where he can properly show his craft get louder if he can replicate that showing against Morocco today.