Arsenal are still keen on signing Atletico Madrid midfield ace Thomas Partey, as per reports.
Mikel Arteta has some important decisions to make in the transfer window as there are areas of the squad the Gunners need to strengthen, and adding more solidity to the midfield is certainly one of them.
The Gunners will be without Dani Ceballos next season, unless they manage to strike another loan deal for the Spaniard or sign him permanently. They are also and are looking to offload Mateo Guendouzi, who has fallen out of favour, and Partey is one the top of their wish list, as per Athletic.
The Athletic have claimed that Partey has impressed the scouting department at Arsenal, but his release clause of €50 million might make him out of reach.
Why Arsenal should break the bank for Thomas Partey
A sum of €50 million might not seem like much for a club like Arsenal who spent money lavishly last summer, but the pandemic has hit clubs pretty hard.
Also read: Arsenal Looking To Sign Dutch Star For £25million
The Gunners are in a tough situation right now, as they have progressed well under Arteta, and run the risk of moving backwards if they don’t strengthen their team in the coming weeks ahead of the 2020-21 season.
(Photo by PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU/AFP via Getty Images)
Despite their record 14th FA Cup win, there are deficiencies in the Arsenal squad, especially in the midfield and defence. It’s clear that the Gunners needs a leader at the back, and perhaps more than just one player to compete for a place in the Champions League next season.
However, signing a competent holding midfield could help the defence.
Arsenal are in desperate need to a combative defensive midfielder to ensure teams don’t expose their soft underbelly, and Partey would not only aid that, but also add the drive from midfield.
The likes of Ceballos and Xhaka are solid with their passing and circulating the ball, but Partey could add a different dimension to the team. A player who has fine-tuned his game under the uber-pragmatic Diego Simeone, Partey has the ability to seamlessly fit into the Arteta blueprint.
Partey’s tackling and interception stats were impressive as usual last season, as he managed an average of 2.3 tackles and 1.4 interceptions in all competitions. His passing stood at a solid 83.6% accuracy, and he also managed and healthy 1.6 key passes a game for a central midfielder.
The Gunners are trying to get rid (h/t Athletic) of several players in the squad, signing Partey will depend on how well they can sell in the coming weeks. Considering what he brings to the table, Partey is one player Arsenal cannot afford to miss out on this summer, if they hope to challenge the teams above them next season.
Stats via Whoscored