Given the Turkish transfer window does not close until September 8th, reports remain rife that Super Lig outfit Besiktas could make a late move for Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny.
However, hopes of this switch have been all but quashed as though a deal between the two clubs had been agreed - personal terms are where the move may have collapsed after the Black Eagles could not agree with the player over wages.
Elneny originally signed for Arsenal in the January transfer window of 2016 and spent the 2019-20 season on loan at Besiktas - evidently impressing while there given their recent interest.
Elneny made 36 appearances with Besiktas, before playing 41 times upon his return to Arsenal last term. He has featured once in the Premier League and once in the Carabao Cup so far this season.
Besiktas are not the first club to declare an interest in Elneny in recent weeks, with fellow Turkish club Galatasaray also keeping tabs on the Egyptian international.
Turkish outlet Milliyet claim that last season's Super Lig runners up opened negotiations with the midfielder after receiving Arsenal's blessing as they are desperate to cash in on the 29-year-old.
The same report claims that Galatasaray quickly gave up on the proposed transfer after it became apparent they were not willing to meet his wage demands.
Elneny is alleged to have demanded a four-year deal that included a salary of €2.5m per year.
The total deal would have cost Galatasaray around €15m, a price the Turkish giants were clearly unwilling to pay.
As a result, Galatasaray president Burak Elmas 'vetoed the transfer' for Elneny and decided to focus on alternatives.
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Arsenal may try and offload the Egyptian during the January transfer window in four months time, but if nothing changes in terms of Elneny's wage demands - he could remain in north London for the forseeable future.
His time at the Emirates has been somewhat underwhelming, making a total of 132 appearances for the Gunners in five years on the books, providing eight assists and five goals.
Elneny is currently someway down the midfield pecking order at Arsenal, with Granit Xhaka, Thomas Partey and Albert Sambi Lokonga all viewed as more suitable options.
