According to a recent report by Mundo Deportivo, Arsenal are ‘the most interested’ in recruiting Thomas Partey from Atletico Madrid during the summer transfer period. The same source has also mentioned that Diego Simeone’s side have identified RCD Mallorca midfield ace, Iddrisu Baba, as a perfect replacement for the Ghanaian international which could leave the door open for the Gunners to seal a move for him this summer. It is understood that Partey has a €50m release clause in his current contract at the Wanda Metropolitano, so he won’t be a cheap option for the North London giants in this off-season (via Mundo Deportivo).
Partey’s Impressive Spell At The Spanish Capital
The Odumase Krobo-born midfield ace has received a lot of praise for putting in a series of commanding displays at the heart of the Atletico midfield. He has featured in 35 matches for the Madrid giants this term, netting three goals and providing one assist on all fronts which highlight his knack for scoring goals going forward. Despite playing most of this campaign in a defensive midfield role, the Ghanaian deserves credit for getting himself involved in the final third every once in a while.
More importantly, on the defensive end, the 26-year-old has averaged 2.5 tackles, 1.4 interceptions and 1.2 clearances per game in La Liga and the UEFA Champions League this season (stats via whoscored). His stats shed light on his growing influence as a holding midfielder which has made him a fan-favourite at the Spanish capital.
Partey is the current skipper of the Ghanaian national side and has a decent goal-scoring record at the international stage. He has banged in nine goals in 26 senior appearances for his country thus far. Thus, the Atletico youth product will be expected to play an important role in Charles Akonnor’s first-team when the African Cup of Nations gets underway next year.
What Will The Ghanaian International Bring To The Emirates Stadium?
Partey is an all-round talent as he can do a bit of everything at the centre of the park. He tends to rely on his quickness and power to cover every blade of grass in midfield. The Ghanaian sensation is also good at making a few well-timed tackles that enable him to win the ball back for his team. He can also outmuscle the opposition by putting his incredible upper-body strength to good use when going in for the 50-50 challenges inside his own half.
Partey packs a lot of power with his goal attempts from long range and hardly gives away the ball as evidenced by his pass success rate of 84.8% in the Champions League this term (stats via whoscored). He will not only add more stability and power to Mikel Arteta’s midfield but also enhance the overall depth of his squad at North London. The La Liga powerhouse ticks all the right boxes in terms of what the Gunners boss demands from his midfielders so he will be a decent acquisition for the Spaniard before the start of the new season.
At 26, Partey is only going to get better in the coming seasons which will benefit Arsenal if they can win the chase for his signature this summer. Plus, he will also provide some healthy competition for the likes of Granit Xhaka, Matteo Guendouzi, Joe Willock and Lucas Torreira in the race to secure one of the midfield spots at the Emirates Stadium next season.
