Midfielder Mohamed Elneny is set to become Arsenal’s first signing of 2016 when later this month – quite possibly this week.
The 23-year-old’s move from Basle to North London is as good as done.
Arsenal have reportedly agreed to pay Elneny £65,000 a week, while a transfer fee has also apparently been finalised.
SEE MORE: Mohamed Elneny wages revealed: Arsenal to spend £20.4m overall on first signing of 2016
One of the final things left to discover is what squad number he will get at the Emirates.
Elneny’s first choice would have been no.33, but he cannot take it because it was given to goalkeeper Peter Cech in the summer.
Cech chose no.33 because it was – and still is – his age, plus he played 333 times in the Premier League for former club Chelsea.
With no.33 off limits, the lowest numbers available to Elneny are no.22, no.25 and no.29.
Arsenal are currently without a no.9, but is expected that the Gunners will reserve that number for a new striker.
Of the available options, no.25 is probably the most attractive. The jersey has been worn by Nwankwo Kanu and Emmanuel Adebayor during the Premier League era.
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