Arsenal Transfer News Roundup: Gunners eyeing Manuel Locatelli; Mohamed Elneny set to leave, and more - May 18, 2024
Arsenal putting together final preparations ahead of their season-defining game against Everton on Sunday, May 19, in the Premier League. Mikel Arteta's team will win the league title if City drop points and they pick up three points against the Toffees.
Meanwhile, the Gunners have set their sights on Juventus midfielder Manuel Locatelli. Elsewhere, midfielder Mohamed Elneny has announced that he will leave the Emirates at the end of the season.
On that note, here's a look at the key Arsenal transfer stories as on May 18, 2024:
Arsenal eyeing Manuel Locatelli
Arsenal are interested in Manuel Locatelli, according to Juve Live. The Gunners are likely to target midfield reinforcements this summer, with many departures expected from the Emirates.
Mohamed Elneny is set to leave, while Thomas Partey's future also remains up in the air. Jorginho has agreed to stay but is only a short-term fix. Arteta wants a permanent partner for Declan Rice and has set his sights on Locatelli.
The Italian midfielder is apparently unhappy at Juventus and is considering his options ahead of the summer. The 26-year-old has appeared 39 times for the Bianconeri this season, registering one goal and six assists.
He has all the attributes to complement Rice in the middle of Arteta's midfield, which justifies the north London side's interest. However, prising him away from Turin won't be easy, as the player is under contract till 2028.
Mohamed Elneny set to leave
Mohamed Elneny has confirmed that he will leave Arsenal at the end of this season.
The Egyptian midfielder is a peripheral figure at the Emirates at the moment and has struggled for chances under Arteta. Elneny has appeared just six times across competitions this season, starting once. The 31-year-old's contract with the Gunners expires this summer, but the club have opted not to extend his stay.
In a video shared on social media, Elneny thanked fans for their support over the years.
“Gunners, I am here today to send you a message to say goodbye and thank you for everything you have done for me. The love, support, and kindness; I am going to miss you so much, and you will be in my heart forever,” said Elneny.
He continued:
“I want to say how much I love you and how much you mean to me and I will never forget the way you supported me. I am going to see you on Sunday at Emirates Stadium to say goodbye, face to face. See you, Gunners.”
Elneny has appeared 161 times for the north London side since joining them in 2016.
Mikel Arteta opens up on his future
Mikel Arteta has insisted that he will discuss his future with Arsenal at the end of the season.
The Gunners have gone from strength to strength under the Spanish manager in recent seasons. The north London side are in a Premier League title race with Manchester City thats' going down to the wire. Arteta's contract with Arsenal expires in 2025, adding to speculation regarding his next move.
Speaking to the press, as cited by Caught Offside, the Spanish manager said that he remains focused on the game against Everton this weekend.
“That’s something that after the season, or whenever the right time is, we will talk and sit down.
"What is important is to win now, to keep believing that we can continue to win, that’s the important thing. Whatever happens, it will be very emotional on the day (against Everton)," said Arteta.
He continued:
“It’s probably not the right moment to make any conclusions but afterwards we will have time to reflect.
"You have to go through the season we have to come to the point we have done and try to understand why. We have to find the ‘why’ and the ‘how’, we are going to do the next bit. That’s more important.”
Recent reports have suggested that Barcelona are keeping a close eye on his situation.