Already about to seal a deal for Egyptian international Mohamed Elneny, could Arsenal already be looking for another midfielder with an eye on the future?

At 23, Elneny is no kid and is ready to go straight into the first team but Telefoot believe he isn’t the only midfielder Arsenal are interested in this winter, reporting the Gunners’ interest in 19-year-old Youssef Aït Bennasser.

The holding midfielder, who is a Moroccan youth international, has played 17 games in Ligue 2 – the French second division – this season, regularly being chosen for AS Nancy Lorraine ahead of highly-rated midfielder Remi Walter. The French club are top of the Ligue 2 table, so it’s safe to assume Bennasser is doing a good job.

His performances have drawn attention from Lille and Atlético Madrid, so you can expect his price to go up over the course of the next few years. If Arsenal really are interested in the midfielder it would be smart to swoop for him now.

With Mathieu Flamini, Mikel Arteta and Tomas Rosicky entering the final months of their contracts and Santi Cazorla both 30 and injured, Arsenal will need to sign more than one midfielder in the near future. Mohamed Elneny may well be the only signing this January but Bennasser fits the description of an Arsène Wenger signing, so maybe we should remember the name.