Arsenal are reportedly closing in on a deal for Ibrahima Bamba (Getty)

Arsenal are in advanced talks to sign Vitoria Guimaraes’ defensive midfielder Ibrahima Bamba, according to reports in Portugal.

The Gunners are looking to sign a new central midfielder before the end of the January transfer window and their urgency has been heightened following the news that Mohamed Elneny is likely to miss the remainder of the season due to injury.

Portuguese newspaper Jornal de Noticias now reports that Arsenal are closing in on a deal for Bamba after his agent travelled to London for negotiations this week.

The report claims that a deal for the 20-year-old could be ‘imminent’ and may be completed before the transfer window closes next week.

Vitoria Guimaraes are in a strong negotiating position as Bamba still has over three years remaining on his current contract, which also includes a €30 million (£26.3m) release clause.

Ibrahima Bamba has a €30m (£26.3m) release clause in his deal with Vitoria Guimaraes (Getty)

Bamba, who was born in Italy, made his professional debut for Vitoria Guimaraes last February and was part of Italy’s national team training camp last summer, although he is yet to receive his first international cap.

The 20-year-old has primarily been played as a centre-back in Vitoria Guimaraes’ three-man defensive system this season but was introduced to the team as a defensive midfielder in the second half of last season.

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Speaking to O Jogo on Thursday, Bamba’s agent, Filipe Macedo Alves, said: ‘It is true that I was in London, but I was just arriving from Germany, where I was watching [Edmond] Tapsoba’s game. Bamba is not the only player I work with.

‘He is a player profile that is clearly of interest to many clubs, but today he is a Vitoria player and is only focused on Monday’s game against Chaves. The market is open but I’m not going to fuel the rumours.’

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