Arsenal are likely to remain busy, as promised by Arsene Wenger, in the winter transfer window, and recent report suggest the Gunners are very, very close to completing their first signing in January.
According to reports from ESPN, Arsenal officials have flown to Switzerland to complete the signing of Basel midfielder Mohamed Elneny.
Basel confirmed earlier this week that the Egypt international would leave the club in January. ESPN sources confirm that the talks between the two clubs are at an advanced stage, and the confirmation of the deal is now only a matter of time.
The 23-year-old midfielder is likely cost around £7m. He has already passed his medical, but the transfer has been held up as Arsenal are waiting for the midfielder to get an international clearance and work permit.
Elneny will sign a four-and-a-half-year contract at the Emirates, should the deal go through.
Mathieu Debuchy to be offloaded?
French defender Mathieu Debuchy has requested Arsene Wenger to allow him to go in January so that he can get regular first team football ahead of the Euros next summer.
Debuchy is having talks with Roma, per John Cross of The Mirror, and it seems the deal is likely to happen.
Wenger is reluctant to let Debuchy go as it would leave Arsenal short of options if first choice Hector Bellerin gets injured, but he is likely to approve the player’s departure.
Roma Sporting Director Walter Sabatini will hold talks with Debuchy’s advisors shortly.
Arsenal are looking to send him on loan with a view to a permanent £8m move for the player.
Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Sport Witness) reports that AS Roma have already made a bid for the French defender.
Debuchy has been linked with a move to West Brom recently, but Albion boss Tony Pulis has revealed that he has no intentions of signing him in the January transfer window.
He said as quoted by ESPN: “I’ve not said a word to Arsenal, and Arsenal have not said a word to me, so that’s a definite no.”
Gedion Zelalem agrees loan deal with Rangers
Rangers FC have confirmed that Arsenal midfielder Gedion Zelalem has extended his loan deal with them until the end of the season.
The 18-year-old midfielder has made 15 appearances for Rangers – including 12 in the league – and has impressed everyone at the club.
Zelalem has made two appearances for the Arsenal first team. He is seen as a bright prospect for the future, and was sent to Rangers to gain more experience.
Arsenal announced double deals yesterday – 18-year-old full-back Tafari Moore penned a new deal on Wednesday, while 17-year-old defender Tolaji Bola signed his first professional contract with the Gunners.
Moving on, Arsenal have initiated talks with PSG over signing their highly rated midfielder, Adrien Rabiot.
According to reports from the British press, negotiations are in full swing between the clubs, and the 20-year-old is keen to leave PSG in the transfer window.
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