Thomas Partey reportedly knee joining Arteta’s revolution at Arsenal
The Gunners want to bring in the Ghana international but are currently unable to activate his £44.5 million release clause.
Thomas Partey is keen on a move to Arsenal but the Gunners’ hopes of landing the midfielder this window will rest on the club’s ability to move players on over the coming weeks.
The Ghana international has long been the north London club’s priority capture this summer, but talks with Atletico Madrid have so far proved unsuccessful.
Madrid do not want to lose Partey and still hope to convince him to sign a new contract. His current deal runs until 2023 and there had been talks over extending his stay.
The financial implications brought on by the coronavirus pandemic have meant, however, that Atletico have not been able to offer him the size of deal they had initially planned. They have instead given the player assurances that he will be given a substantial increase once the club is on a more secure financial footing in a year’s time.
Arsenal remain extremely interested in Partey, however, and sources have confirmed to Goal that the player is keen on a move to north London, providing a deal can be agreed between the two clubs.
As it stands, Arsenal have made it clear they are not in a position to do that, with the club having been focusing their attentions on completing the signing of centre-back Gabriel from Lille, who will be joining in a £25m ($33m) deal.
Partey, meanwhile, is happy to wait to see how things progress over the coming weeks. Although he is keen on a switch to the Premier League and is likely to move to Arsenal if a deal can be agreed between the two clubs, he will not look to force his way out of Atletico.
But Partey is a player who has long been identified as someone who could come in and give Arsenal the type of quality and aggression they have been missing in the middle of the park.
Former head of international recruitment Francis Cagigao and his scouting network have watched the player closely over the past 18 months and, prior to their shock departure last month, had advised the north London club to pursue a move.
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