Arsenal agree fee with Basel for midfielder Mohamed Elneny

Arsenal have agreed a fee with Basel for the transfer of midfielder Mohamed Elneny in January. The midfielder has been heavily scouted by the Gunners over the course of the campaign and will be brought in to add cover for the likes of Francis Coquelin, who is out till the end of February with a knee injury.

The Mirror reports that the deal will be announced in the beginning of January and this will be their only transfer for the window, with Arsene Wenger having already distanced himself from signing a striker in the coming month. The Gunners are going through an injury crisis at the moment, with seven players out of contention, which includes five midfielders in the form of Jack Wilshere, Tomas Rosicky, Mikel Arteta, Coquelin and Santi Cazorla.

Elneny has played a crucial role in taking Basel to the top of the Swiss league and will be an important addition to the squad, with the north London club looking to challenge for the title this season. The Gunners are currently second in the league but are down to their bare bones with respect to personnel, something Elneny's arrival will help alleviate in the short term. The fee is expected to be in the range of £5m ($7m) and his ability on the ball along with his energy is something that has turned Arsenal's interest.

However, they are still in the market for another big name midfield signing in the summer, given that they will not be extending deals for Rosicky, Flamini and Arteta, whose contracts expire after the end of the season, as reported by the Mirror. The Gunners have reportedly made Victor Wanyama their top target for the summer but are unwilling to match Southampton's asking fee of more than £20m ($30m), which may lead to a roadblock.

Arsenal shall take on Southampton in the Premier League on Boxing Day, where a win could see them go top of the league should other results around them go their way. The Gunners are currently two points behind league leaders Leicester City, who travel to Anfield following their 3-1 win over Everton.