According to a recent report by the Daily Express, Premier League giants Chelsea have entered the race for this signature of Atletico Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey. Mikel Arteta has been chasing the services of the defensively adept midfielder for a while now, having been linked with a move for him all through the summer transfer window. Worryingly for the Gunners though, Frank Lampard has been touted to have the same ambitions, as he looks to add a dynamic defensive presence to his already stacked roster.
Although the report has claimed that Chelsea are battling Arsenal for Atletico Madrid’s Thomas Partey, the La Liga side’s insistence that he remains a part of Diego Simeone’s plans could come as a stumbling block. Despite the £45m release clause that’s embedded into the Ghanaian’s contract, Atleti are seemingly adamant that he’s not for sale at this time. With Arsenal struggling to offload players to fund the move, Chelsea could certainly pounce with a big enough offer to meet the 27-year-old’s release clause.
What Is Chelsea’s Current Midfield Situation?
Frank Lampard’s Chelsea boast what is arguably the strongest roster in the entirety of the Premier League on its day. The additions of players like Hakim Ziyech, Timo Werner and Kai Havertz have hoisted this Chelsea attack to the world-class level. Thiago Silva and Ben Chilwell were brought in to shore up the defence, and the duo have started to perform their duties effectively as well.
The one position where they haven’t strengthened, however, is defensive midfield. As of right now, N’Golo Kante remains the only holding midfielder in Lampard’s side, and that is sure to be cause for concern.
The French World Cup winner hasn’t had the best of fortunes with injuries over recent seasons, and his absence would leave Chelsea in a sensitive situation. Mateo Kovacic and Jorginho, as good as they are, don’t offer near as much defensive security as the former Leicester City man. Moreover, Kante’s direct and dynamic style means that one good pass from the opposition is often enough to break through the Chelsea midfield. This is exactly where a player like Partey would be useful to the Stamford Bridge club.
What Makes Partey An Attractive Option For Chelsea?
The Ghanaian midfielder has been a household name in the La Liga for a long time now, having come through the Atletico Madrid youth system. Not only is the 27-year-old a good passer of the ball, but his defensive positioning and tackling are right up there with the best as well. The midfielder has the ability to read opposition play and make vital interceptions, while he would also become one of the strongest players in the entire roster upon arrival. Often seen sat in front of the back-line, he would add the defensive security that this Chelsea side has been calling out for.
Chelsea Battling Arsenal For Atletico Madrid’s Thomas Partey: Smart Move For Lampard?
The Blues’ defensive fragility hasn’t been a secret for a while now, and it’s something that has seemingly lingered through the summer break as well. Despite conceding three goals against West Bromwich Albion, they came back with an impressive 4-0 win against Crystal Palace this weekend, in what was their first clean sheet of the new season. While that is undoubtedly a positive sign, bringing in a player of Partey’s quality would secure Chelsea’s defensive line that much more.
