Arsenal transfer news: Gunners close to agreeing deal with Basle for Mohamed Elneny

Arsenal are close to agreeing a deal to sign the Basle midfielder Mohamed Elneny as soon as the transfer window opens next week.

Negotiations are ongoing over a potential £5 million transfer but the talks have so far been positive and the expectation is that there will be little difficulty in agreeing personal terms with Elneny.

The 23-year-old Egyptian will offer further central midfield reinforcement in the short-term following injuries this season to Francis Coquelin, Santi Cazorla, Jack Wilshere and Mikel Arteta but is also regarded as a good long-term prospect due to his adaptability to play both in a holding position but also a more offensive midfielder. He has scored six goals in 28 matches this season for Basle, who are currently top of the Swiss league.

An added bonus is that Elneny would be eligible in the Champions League after Basle went out in the qualifying rounds to Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Victor Wanyama is unlikely to be available in January

Arsenal have been searching for midfield reinforcement since Coquelin suffered his knee ligament injury, with the situation then becoming even more acute after Cazorla endured a similar injury in the 1-1 draw at Norwich City.

It has left Mathieu Flamini and Aaron Ramsey to form the midfield base and, while their partnership has impressed, Wenger wants to be able to rotate his team, especially now that the FA cup is looming as well as a Champions League last 16 fixture against Barcelona.

Arsenal are without the injured Francis Coquelin

Wilshere should return in January following his fractured fibula but there will be uncertainty about his match fitness while Calum Chambers has been practicing this month in a central midfield position, despite being primarily regarded as a centre-back.

William Carvalho, Lars Bender and Victor Wanyama are all of interest to Wenger but are unlikely to be available in January. Carvalho and Bender have also themselves suffered significant injuries this year.

Lars Bender is another Arsenal central midfield target

Wenger will still be looking for another central midfielder in the summer, with Arteta, Flamini and Tomas Rosicky all out of contract.

He is also scouting strikers and centre-backs for the longer-term although any deal for Elneny is likely to be the only January transfer window addition as Arsenal aim to win their first Premier League title since 2004.