“Now watch me whip; now watch me Elneny,” Arsenal fans are probably saying this week. This January transfer window has been all drum roll, and no cymbal thus far. It’s been all sizzle and no steak. However, one of the English Premier League giants did close a deal this week, as Arsenal completed the acquisition of Mohamed Elneny.
Arsenal Manager Arsene Wenger spoke to the media about the Basel midfielder after his side’s 3-3 draw with Liverpool.
“Elneny will of course join us. He has joined us. We’ll see if he can qualify for Sunday.”
It turns out Elneny used to sleep with a ball. Via the Guardian:
“The idea was that Mohamed Elneny should become at one with the ball. It came from his father, who was a youth team coach at Baladeyet Al-Mahalla in Egypt, and it was put into practice when Elneny was very young.
“I remember that my father demanded that I went to bed with the ball,” Elneny says. “He said: ‘You have to connect with the ball.’ He started coaching me when I was three years old. His biggest wish was that I became a professional footballer.”
The Elneny deal with Arsenal will reportedly be for £7 million or 10 million Euros. The major stumbling block appears to be complications with Elneny having issues obtaining a work permit.
Wenger also added his belief that transfer business will pick up. (Saying this on Monday at the pre match press conference)
“I would say for the media you could have some good news this January transfer window,” he said.
“I believe many clubs will be active. You go from the clubs who are down in the table like Villa, who have to do something, to the clubs at the top. I’m sure many of them could be very active.”
“My prediction is that it could be one of the most active transfer windows in January that you have seen.”
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and sometimes writes The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. The website is also featured on News Now.
Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes to the Chicago Tribune RedEye. He also appears regularly on numerous talk shows all across the country. Catch him Tuesdays on KOZN 1620 The Zone.