Atletico Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey is set to disappoint his suitors as the Ghanaian is planning on prolonging his stay at the Wanda Metropolitano.
Arsenal’s summer transfer plans might be in a formation stage, but they might be in for some heartbreak with one of their reported targets. According to Daily Star, Atletico Madrid’s Thomas Partey is set to reject any advances from Arsenal or any other clubs in the summer to prolong his stay at the Madrid club, which he considers integral to his career.
Despite signing Lucas Torreira and Matteo Guendouzi last summer, Arsenal are on the lookout for possibly one or two central midfielders at the end of the season. With Aaron Ramsey leaving for Juventus, there’s a gap to fill in midfield, although this requirement needs a player who is a box-to-box midfielder. The Gunners might also try to sign a defensive midfielder, and Partey’s name has been thrown in the mix.
The Ghanaian has become a key member of Diego Simeone’s side, and his versatile qualities have come to be helpful more than once this season. This season, he has been primarily deployed as a defensive midfielder, and as expected he has made himself integral to Simeone’s plans. Since breaking into the Atletico first-team, he has made over 130 appearances in all competitions.
Partey has a contract with Atletico until the summer of 2023, although it does consists of a release clause worth £43 million. It’s unclear if Arsenal would be willing to pay that kind of money given their restricted finances, but it could be possible if they secure Champions League football for next season. Playing in Europe’s premier competition will significantly boost Arsenal’s budget for next season.
There could be other clubs along with Arsenal in line to make a move for Partey, should the midfielder express a desire to move on. However, the midfielder is set to disappoint his suitors as he intends to stay put at the Wanda Metropolitano for the foreseeable future.
In a recent interview, when he was quizzed of a possible departure from Atletico, he responded by reiterating his commitment to the club. He said, “I’ve grown up in Atleti, and I am sure I will stay here. I don’t know of another place that will understand how I play like they do here.”
That might just be the news Atletico boss Simeone, and their fans want to hear from a promising star. This could also prompt Atletico to offer fresh terms for the player with an increased release clause. But for now, the Rojiblancos could assure themselves that Partey will stay put despite the expected interest from other clubs in the summer.
As for Arsenal, they might want to look elsewhere in their search for a defensive midfielder. They have been linked with a host of names – Eibar’s Joan Jordan being one of them, but could have done business with Atletico had Partey showed the willingness to move away from Madrid.
In all, Partey could have slotted in easily in this Arsenal side and made a name for himself, but he seems set to continue playing a key role for Atletico in the years to come.
