According to Mundo Deportivo, as cited by Express, Atletico Madrid fear Arsenal could snatch Thomas Partey away from Madrid. As a result, they are prepared to offer him a new contract extension, which will reportedly include a new release clause worth £44 million. They also want to double his wages in an attempt to prevent him from moving to north London. But is he a good fit for the Gunners?
Why has Partey been so successful at Atletico?
Partey has been a first-team regular at Atletico ever since his breakthrough during the 2017/18 campaign. A product of the Atleti youth academy, the midfielder has already made almost 150 competitive appearances for Los Rojiblancos.
One of the main reasons why Partey has been so successful is purely due to Diego Simeone’s tactical philosophy. The Argentine mastermind is known for his aggressive and notorious high press that suits well with the Ghanaian’s physical prowess and overall athleticism.
As a result, Partey has built a formidable midfield partnership with the likes of Saul Niguez and Koke. This season, in particular, the 26-year-old has been on a great run of form, helping Atletico put up a strong fight to Real Madrid and Barcelona for the league title.
Is Partey a good fit for Arsenal?
Partey would be an excellent signing for Arsenal even though they have quite a strong midfield unit. The Ghanaian’s physicality and robust style of play could provide the much-needed stability in the middle of the park – something Granit Xhaka has struggled with at North London.
Unlike the Swiss international, Partey is also known for his confident tackles and ability to disrupt the flow of the opposition with his willingness to close them down. And this makes him an ideal partner to Matteo Guendouzi, whose tenacity and attacking nature could really combine well with Partey’s defence-oriented style of play.
Therefore, it can be argued that Partey is actually an upgrade over Xhaka. He also has considerable experience at the highest level of football and shouldn’t find any difficulty in getting used to the fast-paced nature of the Premier League.
So Arsenal must look to boost their pursuit of this talented midfield enforcer before Atletico manage to extend his contract and prolong his stay at the Wanda Metropolitano. The Gunners have done quite well in the transfer market, of late, and it won’t be a surprise if they do manage to secure his services.
