Re: The Official Winter Transfer Rumours Thread

[MJ]

No player is behind 3 CMs unless they refuse to compete. Cazorla, Wilshere, Ramsey, and hypothetical Gundogan (love how we're talking about this like it's not an entirely made up scenario, we're not even linked with the dude) all stand a chance of ousting each other from the starting XI with form, injuries and suspensions giving each their chances on the pitch.

The likes of Barca have Iniesta, Busquets, Roberto, Rafinha, Rakitic, now Vidal. Bayern have Alonso, Thiago, Vidal, Gotze, Rode, Alaba/Martinez/Lahm depending on where they play.

At least with CMs you have the option of chopping and changing, shifting players around, especially versatile ones like Cazorla. With GKs, like the Cech comparison, you have one guy to start virtually every game. Even if we were to sign Gundogan or another good, youngish player, there's no reason to sell Cazorla unless he were to force a move which I don't see him needing to do.

[urbaNRoots]

Barcelona and Bayern play with a 3 man midfield though. We'd have two positions for Cazorla, Coquelin, Gündogan, Ramsey, Wilshere and a new DM. 6 players for 2 positions.

It's unrealistic to expect something good out of this, let's be honest -- one of Cazorla, Wilshere, Ramsey would have to be sold if we want Gündogan.

[Chumlum]

More on Danilo interest - https://twitter.com/PortuBall/status/680336794680995840

[EL Patron]

Apparently we are close to signing an Egyptian midfielder from Basle, seems like the sort of gamble Arsene would take.

[urbaNRoots]

More on Danilo interest - https://twitter.com/PortuBall/status/680336794680995840

Interestingly enough, this guy is not a Jorge Mendes client. Unlike past stories on Portuguese players linked with an Arsenal move this one could have legs.

[MJ]

Barcelona and Bayern play with a 3 man midfield though. We'd have two positions for Cazorla, Coquelin, Gündogan, Ramsey, Wilshere and a new DM. 6 players for 2 positions.

It's unrealistic to expect something good out of this, let's be honest -- one of Cazorla, Wilshere, Ramsey would have to be sold if we want Gündogan.

Have to agree to disagree then. As Cazorla ages, he'll be less irritable about playing time which I don't think would be a problem in the first place given how often Ramsey and Wilshere are injured + the fact that Özil, Wilshere, Ramsey and Cazorla have played out wide. Non-issue since we're not linked with anyone to replace Santi though.


Someone we are linked with, as Patron said is Basel's Mohamed Elneny.

John Cross of the Mirror says we've agreed a £5 million move with Basel for the 23 year old holding midfielder and he'll likely be our only January transfer. Cross says all that's left is to agree personal terms and for Elneny to undergo a medical. Deal will be announced in the next week or so, according to him anyway.

Elneny is seen as Arsenal's Mathieu Flamini replacement as he can play a similar role and he'll be providing reinforcement in midfield while Coquelin, Cazorla, Wilshere, Arteta (names 300 others) recover. Club will still go for a bigger name in summer and current priority is Victor Wanyama who is unavailable for transfer in January. Krychowiak was looked at but is too expensive.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/arsenal-agree-fee-basel-egyptian-7071691

[Jay29]

I wonder if this Elneny was identified through stats like Gabriel was. Also wonder if he'll actually get a work permit (in which case, you'd hope Arsenal had other targets if he can't get one).

Something about that last bit doesn't make sense, though. They thought Krychowiak was too expensive at £21mil but want Wanyama who's not going to be much cheaper? Seems odd to me.

[RealGunner]

5m? yes get him in.

[urbaNRoots]

According to reliable local newspaper 'Basler Zeitung',  Elneny is doing his medical before signing with Arsenal. Can't read more since the article is behind a paywall:

http://epaper.baz.ch/einzelausgabe.cfm?showArticle=355349

Mohamed Elneny fliegt heute in die Schweiz zurück, um sich den medizinischen Tests des FC Arsenal zu
unterziehen. Ist erwartungsgemäss alles in Ordnung, wird Elneny im Januar das Trikot der Gunners tragen.

[RealGunner]

not played fifa in a while so can't say how good he is. But youtube is making him look like the prime alonso

[EL Patron]

Well it's a big jump from the Swiss league to the premier league, might be asking too much of him to hit the ground running but the guy has some champions league experience so he is not a complete noob at this level. He is not proven quality but better than nothing I suppose.

[urbaNRoots]

Don't think he'll be asked to get in and perform right away. Wenger will smoothly integrate him as he did with Gabriel and Monreal.

[RealGunner]

reading basel's forum (via trans). They all love him and his best attribute seems to be his stamina. Which is good I suppose

[urbaNRoots]

You can check this Basel fan on reddit, who is answering questions about Elneny. He thinks it's a done deal and has a lot of good things to say about him.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Gunners/comments/3y8doc/it_seems_that_arsenal_will_be_signing_mohamed/

[Jay29]

Supposedly he's developed his game bit from DM to B2B. Would be just like us to not sign an out-and-out DM.

[RealGunner]

Arsene doesn't pure DMs lol.

[MJ]

This one kind of came out of nowhere lol.

Then again, same deal with Nacho and Gabriel and... Kimmy K. Our scouts seem to always have these hipster alternative gems to unearth in January.

[Sina]

absolute typical of us to sign b2b energetic mid and hone him into more restricted holding role
why not just sign positional mid

knew i wouldnt trust us to sign proper player for this role
just someone to fill in this role if all these talks are legit
could still turn out to be solid addition but you get the point,Meh

[urbaNRoots]

Main man Jeremy Wilson says we will sign Elneny as soon as transfer window opens:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/12069910/Arsenal-transfer-news-Gunners-close-to-agreeing-deal-with-Basle-for-Mohamed-Elneny.html

[Jay29]

If he's got the attributes and discipline to play DM then him being more B2B for Basel as of late shouldn't be an issue. From what I've been reading he doesn't seem to be too different from Coquelin.

Not like we can't sign another midfielder in the summer as well since it's expected we'll have to replace Flamini, Arteta and Rosicky.

[Sina]

he is like Flamini& Tom Huddlestone in one player

midfield version signing of Debuchy/Ospina

future Palace/Bastia Loanee etc

at least we are not spending big on some these glorified mids like Wanyama and co
meh

[El Gunner]

Yeah Wenger just doesn't do pure DM anymore. We can sit and pull out a few reasons why as to that, but it won't matter. As said by some of you already, it look like the lad is decent and he won't take long to get the hang of things in the PL. Not that the quality of play is that high in the PL mind

[EL Patron]

I don't understand what most of you mean by pure DM. Most players who play this position have played another role in midfield or in defence before playing this position. Even the likes of Matic,Fernandinho, Essien were pretty much box to box before settling in defensive mids.

[MJ]

Egyptian football website King FUT say Mohamed Elneny will sign for Arsenal on Wednesday in a deal worth £5m which could rise to £7m. Article says he's previously labeled Barcelona his 'dream club'. Lovely.

http://www.kingfut.com/2015/12/27/el-nenny-arsenal-contract/

Egyptian news organization Ahram Online claim Elneny spoke to them, confirming that he had undergone a medical and that he'll sign a contract with Arsenal today (Sunday).

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/6/53/177515/Sports/Talents-Abroad/Egypt-midfielder-Elneny-says-he-joined-Premier-Lea.aspx


Egyptian I-T-Ks ftw.

[Jay29]

@bbcsport_david: #Arsenal in talks with #FCBasel  to sign Egypt midfielder Mohamed Elneny. 23, needs work permit, is eligible for CL

Work permit situation worries me.

[RealGunner]

Wow, we are moving fast this time.


Only signing though I suppose. Unlike us to sign a forward as well...

Maybe if Nolito wasn't injured?

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