According to a recent report by The Sun, Liverpool have been offered a chance to swap Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for Atletico Madrid’s Thomas Partey this summer. The same source has also stated that the Ghanaian midfielder is eager to make a switch to the Premier League which is why Atletico are preparing for life without him and are willing to sanction his move to Merseyside if they can land Oxlade-Chamberlain in return during the summer transfer period.
Partey’s Excellent Form At The Wanda Metropolitano This Season
The Odumase Krobo-born talent has earned a lot of plaudits for producing a string of solid displays at the heart of Diego Simeone’s midfield. He has made 35 appearances for the Spanish giants this term, registering three goals and one assist across multiple competitions. Despite playing most of this campaign as a defensive midfielder, the Atletico powerhouse has done remarkably well to be involved in four goals for the Madrid outfit this season.
Defensively, Partey has averaged 2.5 tackles, 1.4 interceptions and 1.2 clearances in every 90 minutes of football in the La Liga and the UEFA Champions League this season which showcases his incredible form at the centre of Simeone’s midfield (stats via whoscored).
He is the current captain of the Ghanaian national side, having scored nine goals in 26 international matches for his country thus far. The 26-year-old will once again be expected to play a crucial role for Charles Akonnor’s team when the African Cup of Nations gets underway next year after the competition got delayed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
What Are The Ghana International’s Best Attributes?
Partey is a well-rounded midfielder who can use his quickness and power to cover a lot of ground at the middle of the park. He excels at making some well-timed tackles that allow him to earn possession back for his side. The Ghanaian can also overpower the opposition by putting his remarkable upper-body strength to good use and usually comes out on top when attempting to win the 50-50 midfield duels. He tends to pack a lot of venom with his strikes from long range and hardly throws away possession, as evidenced by his pass completion rate of 84.8% in the Champions League this term (stats via whoscored)
Should The Reds Entertain The Possibility Of Swapping Oxlade-Chamberlain For Partey This Summer?
In comparison, Oxlade-Chamberlain is a goal-scoring midfielder who has made a name for himself for putting in a few match-winning performances at Merseyside during this campaign. He has banged in seven goals and provided one assist in 34 appearances for the Reds this season on all fronts.
As evident from his stats, the English midfielder offers much more going forward when compared to Partey. However, it is the Atletico star who outshines the Liverpool playmaker based on his impact at both ends of the pitch. Therefore, Jurgen Klopp should consider entertaining the possibility of swapping the ex-Arsenal midfielder for Partey this summer.
Recruiting the Ghanaian midfield ace will not only add more bite and steel to the Liverpool midfield but also enhance the overall quality of Klopp’s squad. Partey will also offer more competition for Fabinho and could even strike up a dominant midfield partnership with the Brazilian at Anfield. With all things considered, it certainly makes sense for the Reds to opt for an all-around midfielder like Partey even if it means they have to give up Oxlade-Chamberlain, who can win matches on his own but has been far too inconsistent and injury-prone in recent years.
