Arsenal are prepared to pay Atletico Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey’s release clause, according to Libertad Digital, and signing the Ghanian would be a step in the right direction for the club.
The 26-year has a release clause worth £42million, and Libertad’s report claims that Arsenal have already made contract with Partey’s representatives over a summer move.
It is claimed that the Ghana international would prefer to remain at the Wanda Metropolitano this summer, having built up a rapport with manager Diego Simeone, meaning that Mikel Arteta will need to do some convincing.
Arteta revealed in January that he was in the market for a box-to-box midfielder, particularly with several of his current midfield group having uncertain futures.
Lucas Torreira has been linked with a return to Italy, having struggled for consistent game time at the Emirates this season, while Granit Xhaka’s well documented exploits have thrown his future into question.
Should Arsenal press ahead with their interest in Partey, the Ghanian would represent a move in the right direction for Arsenal, with the club making a marquee signing in a key area long in need of strengthening.
WhoScored heap praise on Partey, describing him as a player whose strengths include passing, tackling, dribbling and shooting from distance, while he excels at breaking up play. They also give him an average match rating of 7.1, which is considerably better than Arsenal’s counterparts.
Granit Xhaka comes closest with (6.8), while Matteo Guendouzi (6.74) and Dani Ceballos (6.7) are just behind him, but all three don’t match up to Partey’s score.
Should Arsenal wish to spend considerably this summer in a bid to finally return to the Champions League after three consecutive seasons away from Europe’s top competition, the man once described by Cesc Fabregas as “muy bueno” (very good) could be a good start.
