Arsenal are ready to strengthen the midfield department in the January transfer window after agreeing a deal for Mohamed Elneny, with the FC Basel midfielder reportedly ready to undergo a medical.
Arsene Wenger has already admitted he is in the market for a defensive midfielder, provided he finds the right one, after Francis Coquelin picked up a long-term injury.
While Mathieu Flamini has filled in well, the fact that Arsenal only really have the Frenchman right now as a specialist in that position is a cause for worry.
With the Premier League title well within their reach this season, ti would be foolhardy of Arsenal not to make a move for a defensive midfielder if the right one came along, and that right option seems like being Elneny.
Reports a couple of days ago suggested Arsenal had agreed a transfer fee with Basel for the Egypt international, and now, according to Basler Zeitung, the 23-year-old is set to undergo a medical in Switzerland so that the English Premier League side can register him and get him on board as soon as the January transfer window opens at the turn of the year.
Wenger played down reports of a medical, even if he did not entirely rule out the signing. "No, no, nothing true about that at the moment," the Frenchman said when asked about the Elneny signing.
The fact that Arsenal coule be close to a signing will be good news for the Gooners out there, who will still be suffering from the heavy loss to Southampton on Boxing Day. Arsenal failed to show up in that match, and while luck also did not go their way, they were visibly second best on the night against the Saints.
"I said before the game at the moment if we are one point ahead or one point behind it is not too important," Wenger said after the 4-0 defeat. "It is the performance that counts.
"We were not good enough to win the game and we have to look at that. On the other hand we can't look too much at that as in 48 hours we play again. We were disappointed and frustrated and the only way is to respond in 48 hours."
Arsenal host AFC Bournemouth on Monday.
