Antonio Conte has set his sights on an ambitious target as Inter Milan reportedly weigh up a potential summer move for Arsenal’s Thomas Partey.
After securing the Scudetto and breaking Juventus’s hegemony over Italian football, Inter Milan are on to more ambitious projects, as they seek to prise away Thomas Partey from Arsenal this summer, reports Fichajes.
It appears Antonio Conte is determined to bolster his ranks in the upcoming summer transfer window, in an attempt to not only preserve Inter Milan’s status as Italian champions but also perform better in Europe.
One of their particular weaknesses has been the midfield department, with first-choice holding midfielder Marcelo Brozovic facing an uncertain future at the club. The Croat has reportedly been on the radar of Arsenal’s rivals Manchester United, with his current contract expiring at end of next season.
Inter, as a result, are ready to raid Arsenal for Partey, whose technical prowess and a robust style of play appeals to Conte’s defence-oriented tactical setup.
The Ghanaian international has not had much success since moving to the Emirates last summer, for a fee considerable fee of €50 million. While the midfielder objectively has not performed badly, the lack of quality or consistency around him, has meant that the Arsenal midfield has struggled as a unit this season.
On top of that, Mikel Arteta does not have much faith in his remaining options including the two loanees in Matteo Guendouzi and Lucas Torreira, with both the midfielders being linked with a permanent summer exit from Arsenal.
It could lead to a massive overhaul in the midfield department, which, Inter hope, could include the departure of Partey. The 27-year-old’s performances do not suggest he is a good fit under the disciplined, possession-based game of Arteta while his problems with injuries could create a layer of uncertainty over his future at Arsenal.
Inter, in that regard, could offer the Gunners a way to cut their losses on Partey by splashing somewhere in the region of €40 million. It is perhaps needless to suggest that the north London giants could brace themselves for the departure of a few of their star players this summer, with even Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang being shockingly linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur.
A lot could depend on how much the Arsenal ownership pledges in favour of the radical overhaul Arteta is looking for this summer, although it is perhaps fair to assume that the Gunners won’t be too keen on getting rid of Partey just a year after signing him. Instead, they could offer him better support by signing someone like Edouard Camavinga.