Arsenal’s apparent financial shortcoming could force them to end their pursuit of Thomas Partey, who reportedly has a £43.5 million release clause.

According to Mirror, Arsenal’s hopes of signing Thomas Partey in the summer could be shattered this summer. The Gunners were among the clubs looking to secure the services of the Atletico Madrid midfielder, who reportedly has a £43.5 million release clause.

It is a rather inexpensive fee, especially for a top-tier Premier League outfit. As a result, Atleti are keen on extending Partey’s existing contract that would see him signing a deal until 2025, with a significant pay raise. Reports suggest that it could also double his release clause as the Spanish giants look to fend off potential suitors.

Nevertheless, Arsenal are unlikely to sign him because of their apparent financial crisis. The north London giants were already running short of money due to their spending spree last summer, notably spending £72 million to secure the services of Nicolas Pepe. They are supposed to pay the fee via instalments.

While the LOSC Lille star has not been able to make the desired impact, loan signing Dani Ceballos has also failed to impress the onlookers and solve Arsenal’s midfield problems.

London calling? (Picture Courtesy - AFP/Getty Images)
Partey could prolong his stay at Atletico Madrid. (Picture Courtesy – AFP/Getty Images)

Indeed, coach Mikel Arteta has lacked the presence of a reliable holding midfielder. Although Granit Xhaka has improved significantly since the arrival of the Spaniard, he has failed to provide the security that is essential for the Arsenal backline that is rather vulnerable.

Partey, in that regard, could have been an ideal signing. The Atletico Madrid star is renowned for his physical and aerial prowess, which is combined with his tenacity, commitment and leadership – making him a tailor-made fit for the physically astute nature of the Premier League.

A product of the Atleti youth academy, Partey could have combined well with Xhaka in the Arsenal midfield. His defence-oriented game would only complement the Swiss international, who is an excellent passer of the ball. Not to mention, the presence of these two aggressive individuals could have made Arsenal much more effective in the second line of press.

However, the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic has taken a massive financial toll on clubs across Europe. Arsenal, in particular, are expected to feel the full brunt of this crisis, which means Arteta will have to settle for a cost-effective option in his bid to sign a new defensive midfielder.

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