Basel: Elneny set for transfer within days

Swiss club Basel have indicated that midfielder Mohamed Elneny could complete a transfer to Arsenal “in the coming days.”

Premier League leaders Arsenal are waiting for a work permit to be granted to the Egypt international.

Basel resumed training this week after the Swiss league’s winter break, and a club statement said Elneny was not among the players who returned for the sessions.

Without naming Arsenal, it said “there could be a transfer in the coming days” for Elneny.

We can confirm that #Elneny is currently not in training to sort out a potential transfer. That’s all we can say at the moment. #FCBasel

– FC Basel 1893 EN (@FC_Basel_en) January 5, 2016

Sources had previously told ESPN FC that Arsenal have agreed a fee of around £7 million for the holding midfielder, who would provide cover for the injured Francis Coquelin.

But he still still needs to be granted a work permit before the deal can be completed, as Egypt’s FIFA ranking of 57th means he does not qualify for one automatically.

Speaking after his side’s 1-0 win over Newcastle on Saturday, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said he hoped to have a transfer completed in “the next 10 days.”

Elneny joined Basel in 2013 and helped the team win three straight Swiss league titles. He has impressed in the Europa League this season, scoring two goals in five games despite being mainly used a holding midfielder.

The player would add to Arsene Wenger’s options in central midfield, with Coquelin and Santi Cazorla both out injured.

But the manager added: “Nobody knocks on your door at Christmas and says ‘I have a fantastic player to sell to Arsenal,’ so you have to be realistic.”

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