Arsenal: Arsene Wenger confirms club hope to wrap up Mohamed Elneny deal in coming days

Arsenal are "two or three" days away from making their first signing of the January transfer window in FC Basel midfielder Mohamed Elneny.

The Gunners have been locked in negotiations with the 23-year-old Egypt international throughout January with the Guardian reporting last week that player has already completed his medical to join the north London side.

On 4 January, FC Basel commented on their official website the move the transfer could take place "in the coming days" with Wenger now confirming the club are close to finalising the deal.

"It's complicated a little bit but we work hard on it and I hope in the next two or three days we get to the end of it," he told a press conference ahead of Arsenal's third round FA Cup clash with Sunderland on 9 January.

Wenger also did not rule out more arrivals at the club before the winter window closes. He said: "I don't rule out anybody else. But he [Elneny] will be at least one of the signings that comes into an area that we are short."

Arsenal take on Sunderland on Saturday with Black Cats boss Sam Allardyce ready to rest a number of his first-team players as he tries to contend with a busy fixture schedule. While Wenger expects a number of opposition players to be rested, he is still not anticipating an easy afternoon against a focused Allardyce team.

"I do not expect any weaknesses from Sam Allardyce. His team will be focused no matter what. Managers do not play weaker teams because everyone has 25 players of Premier League quality.
"We have learned against Sunderland on the breaks they are very dangerous. It was a very hard fought win against them [last time]."