Arsenal are reportedly unprepared to fork out the requisite €50 million to land their priority midfield target Thomas Partey this summer.
According to Sky Sports reporter Matteo Moretto, Arsenal are at an impasse with Atletico Madrid in the talks to sign Thomas Partey in the summer transfer window. Los Rojiblancos are adamant that Partey will only be sold if a club triggers his €50 million release clause, a valuation that the Gunners are hesitant to meet.
Partey has become one of the best midfielders in La Liga since establishing a foothold in the Atletico Madrid first-team setup. Now a mainstay in midfield for the Colchoneros, the Ghanaian international has racked up nearly 200 appearances for the Spanish heavyweights, even chipping in with 16 goals and 12 assists despite playing in a more withdrawn role.
Partey’s progress has been duly noted by several big name clubs, that have been linked with him in recent years. This summer, Arsenal have been desperate to secure his services and have been hot on his trails for several weeks now; and for good reason.
The Premier League outfit are currently in a transitional period, with Mikel Arteta attempting to overturn the fortunes of the fallen giants. If widespread reports are to be believed, the Arsenal boss is looking to improve just about every department, having already bolstered his attack by signing Willian this month.
Midfield, though, appears to be the priority for the Gunners, with Granit Xhaka the only current first-team player who has managed to impress on a consistent basis. Dani Ceballos was superb while on loan from Real Madrid, but has since returned to the Spanish capital, although Arsenal are hoping to secure his services as well.
However, a third reliable presence in midfield is important as well, and that is where Partey comes in. Matteo Guendouzi was supposed to be the long-term solution in the middle of the park for the north Londoners. But, his attitude issues have alienated him from Arteta’s squad, with Arsenal looking to offload him.
As a result, someone like Partey is just the player to pursue, with his ability to add steel in midfield and initiate quick transitions. However, his €50 million release clause has been proving to be quite problematic for Arsenal, with Atletico Madrid unwilling to part ways with the 27-year-old unless the exit clause is triggered.
Arsenal, though, are not prepared to meet Partey’s €50 million and an impasse has been reached as a result. With midfield reinforcements being key, Arsenal ought to identify possible alternatives, with Danilo Pereira reportedly one of the options considered. However, it remains to be seen if the situation surrounding Partey changes, as we enter the second month of the transfer window.
