Arsenal
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Barcelona have renewed their interest in Arsenal’s Thomas Partey, with the La Liga giants looking to snag the Ghanaian midfielder on a free transfer this summer.
Partey, 31, is out of contract at the end of June, and despite Mikel Arteta’s public confirmation that he wants to keep him, negotiations for a new deal have been slow-moving.
According to sources close to the player, Partey is seen as a “cut-price fix” for Barcelona’s engine room, with boss Hansi Flick a big admirer of the ex-Atletico Madrid star.
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Partey has endured an injury-plagued spell at Arsenal since joining from Atletico Madrid in 2020 for £45million. However, when fit, he remains a dominant presence in midfield, and his potential exit would free up a space in the Arsenal team.
Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey
Thomas Partey (Image credit: Getty Images)
Partey enjoyed a strong campaign, playing in 35 league games as Arsenal pushed Liverpool for the title. Despite his impressive performances, he is looking for a deal that reflects his status as one of the club’s most important players.
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One source close to the player revealed that Partey “respects Arsenal massively and loves living in London, but he also knows his worth and wants a deal that reflects his standing at the club.”
The Ghanaian midfielder has attracted interest from Saudi clubs, but Barcelona have made the first serious move and are keeping the pressure on. Partey’s potential departure would be a significant blow to Arsenal, who are looking to bring in Spanish midfielder Martin Zubimendi this summer.
According to reports, senior Arsenal figures expect the deal for Zubimendi to be completed swiftly, with personal terms and relevant documents already signed and agreed.
Arteta is said to be a big fan of Zubimendi, who turned down a switch to Arne Slot’s Liverpool last summer. The deal is part of Arsenal’s plans to splash around £200m on new talent to fire them to Premier League glory next term.
With Partey’s future still uncertain, Arsenal fans will be keeping a close eye on developments as the transfer window heats up.
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