Arsenal are close to completing the signing of Mohamed Elneny from Basel, according to Sky sources.
The Gunners are understood to have agreed a fee of £7m with the Swiss Super League-leaders.
Elneny - an Egypt international with 36 caps - still needs to complete a medical and get international clearance before his transfer to the Emirates can be finalised.
Manager Arsene Wenger revealed after his side's 1-0 victory over Newcastle on Saturday that he intended to make at least one signing in the winter transfer window.
"Ideally, I would like first our injuries to come back. After that, I think at least one," Wenger told Sky Sports.
"We still have players with a lack of experience in midfield like Calum Chambers, Alex Iwobi, Jeff Reine-Adelaide, and Joseph Willock. They can all play.
"But at the moment, because there is so much at stake, it is very difficult to get the young players to start, but they have the quality."
Elneny began his career as a youth with El Ahly before turning senior with El Mokawloon in 2010.
He moved to Basel in 2013 and has made over 100 appearances and scored seven goals.