Charles Watts, the Arsenal correspondent for Goal, has been discussing the club’s transfer plans for the summer and has reported that the Atletico Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey is the Gunners’ “priority target”.
The 27-year-old has been with the Spanish giants since Under 19 level and having spent loan spells at RCD Mallorca and UD Almeria earlier in his career, the Ghanaian is now an established member of Diego Simeone’s side.
Partey made 35 La Liga appearances during the 2019/20 campaign, starting 76% of the time and contributing three goals (via Transfermarkt.co.uk). It was reported earlier this month that Arsenal had approached Atletico Madrid about the possibility of paying the player’s reported £45m release clause in instalments (as per 90 Min).
Watts, during a recent video on his own personal YouTube channel, provided some further detail on the proposed transfer and here is what he had to say:
“We all know Thomas Partey is very, very much a key target for Arsenal, the priority target, really. They want that dominant midfielder. But it’s not going to be easy to get their man. We all know he’s got a €50m release clause and Arsenal, as far as I’ve been told from sources over in Madrid, have made it clear they will not be meeting that release clause. But they do want to get a deal done; the issue is Atletico are not budging.
“Atletico are very, very strong on this and they’re very much at the moment focused on the Champions League. Even though they’ve made it clear they’re not going to be meeting the release clause, they [Arsenal] still think they’ve got a chance of getting a deal done, they’re hoping that Atletico’s stance may well soften after the Champions League is finished, so it’s very much a waiting game for Arsenal.”
Are you hopeful the club will land Thomas Partey this summer?
Yes
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TIF Thoughts…
It appears Mikel Arteta and the club’s recruitment team have their sights set firmly on the midfielder despite his club refusing to entertain any offers short of his release clause. Partey will no doubt add something to the team’s midfield given his average performance rating in the Spanish top flight last season was 7.08/10 in comparison to Dani Ceballos’ of 6.84/10 who was Arsenal’s highest-rated performer in the centre of the park.