Arsenal reportedly plan to trigger a one-year extension option in the contract of midfielder Mohamed Elneny to keep him at the Emirates until 2024.
The 30-year-old - who has only been used sporadically by Mikel Arteta - was due to become a free agent at the end of last season, but he agreed a new one-year deal with the Gunners.
Elneny has continued to provide cover for Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey in the 2022-23 campaign, making just eight appearances in all tournaments and scoring one goal against Oxford United in the FA Cup.
The former Basel man has only started one Premier League game for the table-toppers this season, but there are now fears that he could miss the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery on a serious knee injury.
As a result, Elneny could have played his final game in Arsenal colours, with the Egypt international now free to talk with foreign clubs ahead of his deal expiring at the end of the campaign.
However, PA Sport reporter Mark Mann-Bryans claims that Arsenal will exercise their option to keep Elneny at the club for another year, and discussions are already ongoing.
Upon signing his new short-term deal in 2022, Elneny expressed his desire to continue representing Arsenal in the future, telling arsenal.com: "I love this club and I feel like part of this family.
"I want to continue at this amazing club and amazing family and I'm very happy and very excited for the future."
The midfielder's serious injury has supposedly made no impact on Arteta's decision, and Elneny would likely jump at the chance to stay in North London for the 2023-24 campaign.
Prior to entering the treatment room earlier this month, Elneny missed 13 games between August and October with a severe thigh injury, which has further reduced his minutes in the 2022-23 season.
The midfielder joined Arsenal from Basel in January 2016 - making him the Gunners' current longest-serving senior player - and he has made 155 appearances for the club since being signed by Arsene Wenger.
Elneny has scored six goals and set up a further 10 for the North London giants in that period, winning the FA Cup and two Community Shield crowns in that time.
Arsenal will be working with limited options in central midfield for the remainder of the campaign, despite bringing in Jorginho from Chelsea on deadline day for a £12m fee.
The 31-year-old has signed a short-term contract with the Gunners until 2024 - which could be extended until 2025 - while Albert Sambi Lokonga has joined Crystal Palace on a straight loan until the end of the season.
Having restricted their spending in January - also bringing in Leandro Trossard and Jakub Kiwior for a combined £47m - Arsenal reportedly plan to move for both West Ham United's Declan Rice and Brighton & Hove Albion's Moises Caicedo in the summer window.
Arteta's side remain five points clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table and return to action on Saturday lunchtime against Everton at Goodison Park. body check tags ::
