Besiktas are hoping to sign Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny on a permanent basis during the January transfer window, according to reports in Turkey.

The Egyptian international spent a year on loan with the Super Lig side last season and it is believed they have made contact about re-signing the player.

Elneny has made 17 starts for the Gunners this campaign but his form has dipped alarmingly in recent weeks and manager Mikel Arteta dropped him for the 4-0 win over West Brom last night.

It is thought that Elneny is valued at around €7m (£6.2m) and, with the player now in the final eighteen months of his contract at the Emirates, Arsenal may well decide to cash in so they can fund other signings this month.

The London club are reportedly actively looking for a playmaker but Arteta has claimed they first need to ship out fringe players to make room in the first-team squad.