Partey gives greenlight to Arsenal move

 

Atletico Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey wants to join Premier League side Arsenal this summer, reports The Daily Telegraph.

 

Partey has been heavily linked with a move to Arsenal in recent weeks after emerging as Mikel Arteta's first-choice midfield target.

 

The 26-year-old has a release clause of £45m in his existing Atletico deal and Diego Simeone's side are desperate to secure the midfielder's long-term future.

 

Atletico are reportedly even willing to offer Partey double his current £65,000-a-week wages but the Ghana international hopes to join Arsenal.

 

With transfer valuations set to tumble as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, it remains to be seen whether Arsenal are willing to match Partey's release clause.

 

It has previously been suggested Arsenal may use Alexandre Lacazette as bait in a potential swap deal for Partey.

 

Partey gives greenlight to Arsenal move

 

 

Atletico wanted to sign Lacazette in the summer of 2017 before they were hit with a Fifa-imposed transfer ban.

 

The France international joined Arsenal later that summer in a club-record deal but has struggled for regular playing time in the last 12 months.

 

Partey has committed the most errors directly resulting in an opposition shot in LaLiga (6) this season but none of those have ended up as a goal.