Transfer talk: Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger says Mohamed Elneny’s proposed move from Basel is ‘complicated’

Sunderland have made their first signing of the January transfer window with a swoop for Bayern Munich defender Jan Kirchhoff and Morgan Amalfitano has signed for Ligue 1 club Lille, three months after being released by West Ham United.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. Reuters / Stefan Wermuth

This is the latest football transfer news and speculation from around Europe. Check back for updates as the news breaks.

Arsenal

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger revealed on Friday that Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Elneny’s proposed move from Basel has become “complicated”, but he still expects the deal to go through.

“It is complicated a little bit,” Wenger told a press conference ahead of his side’s FA Cup third-round tie at home to Sunderland on Saturday.

“But we are working hard on it and hopefully in the next two or three days we will get to the end of it.

“I don’t rule out anyone else (being signed), but he will be at least one of the signings that comes into an area where we are short at the moment.”

Elneny, 23, is an Egypt international and has been with Basel since 2013, helping the club to three successive Swiss Super League titles in that time.

Wenger dismissed reports linking his side with Watford striker Troy Deeney, as well as suggestions that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could leave the club to join Chelsea.

He also disclosed that Alexis Sanchez would not be fit to face Sunderland as he continues his recovery from a hamstring problem.

“The bad news of the week is that Alexis is not quite ready,” said the Frenchman, who is bidding to steer Arsenal to a third successive FA Cup success.

“It is a precaution because of his hamstring, and it takes a few more days. He’s not bad, but he’s not ready.”

Captain Mikel Arteta could start after overcoming a calf problem, but Jack Wilshere (leg), Francis Coquelin, Danny Welbeck, Santi Cazorla and Tomas Rosicky (all knee) remain sidelined.

Borussia Dortmund

Star Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang rejected English Premier League overtures as he celebrated winning the African player of the year award.

The Gabonese, who is the leading Bundesliga scorer this season, was reduced to tears after stopping Yaya Toure getting a fifth straight title on Thursday night.

“I am staying at Dortmund,” the 26-year-old Aubameyang, who has been linked with an $85 million move to Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool, said after accepting the prize at a gala in Abuja.

“I am so happy. I am not someone who usually cries but it is quite an emotional moment.

“When you are standing alongside players like Yaya Toure or Andre Ayew there is pride in winning such a trophy ahead of them because they are great players and I obviously admire them a lot.”

Sunderland

Sunderland have made their first signing of the January transfer window with a swoop for Bayern Munich defender Jan Kirchhoff, the struggling Premier League club announced on Thursday.

Kirchhoff agreed an 18-month contract for a fee reported to be in the region of £750,000 ($1.09 million, 1 million euros).

The 25-year-old centre-back moved to Bayern from Mainz in 2013 and went on to spend two spells on loan with Bundesliga rivals Schalke.

“He has good pedigree - he started playing first team football at 17 or 18 years old at Mainz and that he progressed to a club as big as Bayern Munich shows he has talent,” Allardyce told Sunderland’s website.

“He’s frustrated at not being able to play a bigger part in Bayern’s team in the time he’s been there and he wants to experience the Premier League.”

Allardyce moved for Kirchhoff after missing out on QPR’s Steven Caulker and Lorient’s Lamine Gassama.

Lille

Former France winger Morgan Amalfitano has signed for Ligue 1 club Lille, three months after being released by Premier League side West Ham United.

The 30-year-old has signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with Lille through to June 2018.

Amalfitano won one cap for France, against Germany in 2012 when he was playing for Marseille.

He spent time on loan at West Bromwich Albion before a spell of just over a year at West Ham.

Lille have also brought the young Portuguese midfielder Rony Lopes back to the club for a second loan spell.

Lopes, 20, has joined from Monaco for the rest of the campaign after a successful stint last season when he belonged to Manchester City.

Marseille

Steve Mandanda has ruled out leaving Marseille in this month’s transfer window, but does not know what will happen at the end of the season.

The France goalkeeper, 30, is out of contract in the summer and has been linked with a host of clubs in the Premier League and around Europe.

Aston Villa, Liverpool, Newcastle, Roma and Besiktas are among the clubs rumoured to be casting an eye at Mandanda, but OM president Vincent Labrune insisted on Wednesday he will not be sold.

And on Thursday, the club captain wrote on his Facebook page: “Out of respect for the Marseille supporters, I have decided to end my silence concerning my future. I hear a lot about myself in the press, but here is the truth.

“My agent has received proposals from different clubs for me to move in January. I have studied these proposals, weighed up the pros and cons and what is best for me, and decided to stay at Olympique de Marseille until the end of this season.

“One of the main reasons is my attachment to Marseille. I have responsibilities and I am captain.

“My adventure with Olympique de Marseille is more than that, it is a story, a part of my life that I have built here.

“I don’t know what will happen in my future but what is important today is to start this second part of the season with my team-mates, to give my best in the roles of captain and goalkeeper of OM.”

Radio Monte Carlo reported that Mandanda’s contract contains a clause for an extension in the event of Champions League qualification. OM currently lie a lowly 10th in Ligue 1.

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