LONDON -- Arsene Wenger hopes Mohamed Elneny's transfer from Basel will be completed in the "next two or three days," with Arsenal still waiting for the paperwork to go through.
Egypt midfielder Elneny needs to be granted a work permit before the deal can be completed, with Arsenal having agreed a £7 million deal with Basel.
Wenger said during his news conference on Friday: "It's complicated a little bit, but we work hard on it, and I hope in the next two or three days we get to the end of it."
Sources have told ESPN FC that Elneny is also still waiting for a work permit to be approved but that there are no real obstacles in the way of the deal being finalised.
The defensive midfielder will provide cover for the injured Francis Coquelin, with Wenger saying the team is "a bit short" in that position despite club captain Mikel Arteta being ready to return from a calf injury.
Wenger also rejected claims that the club is interested in Watford striker Troy Deeney or that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could move to Chelsea, but said he does not "rule out" making a second signing after Elneny.
Wenger also confirmed that Mathieu Debuchy has been granted permission to leave as the France defender seeks more playing time ahead of the European Championship.
However, he said there have been no concrete talks with Aston Villa, whose manager Remi Garde has expressed interest in the player.
"[Debuchy] has an opportunity to go, yes, but he has not been in touch with any club," Wenger said.