The future of Thomas Partey has been a highly debated topic for well over a year with the expectation initially being that he would leave last summer in order for Arsenal to obtain a fee for his services.
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Partey has now signaled..Continue Reading
The 31-year-old midfielder is approaching the final two months of his current contract, having joined the Gunners in 2020.
As it stands, Partey is set to become a free agent on July 1, giving him the option to move elsewhere without a transfer fee, potentially securing a sizable signing-on bonus.
Throughout the season, Arsenal have been negotiating a contract renewal, with manager Mikel Arteta eager for him to remain in north London.
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Partey has delivered one of his best seasons for the club, further emphasized by the concern among fans when he was suspended for their Champions League semi-final first leg against Paris Saint-Germain.
Barcelona and Atletico Madrid have shown interest in acquiring the Ghanaian, while clubs in Saudi Arabia are reportedly prepared to offer substantial financial packages to sign him.
However, according to The Evening Standard, Partey has made up his mind to stay at Arsenal and aims to finalize a contract extension before the club’s final Premier League match against Southampton on May 25.
Feeling settled in London, he is confident that Arsenal are close to winning silverware.
Arteta’s squad are on track for their third consecutive second-place finish in the league and reached the Champions League semi-finals, eliminating Real Madrid before falling to PSG.
Many Arsenal players believe that with the addition of a top-class striker in the summer, the team will be well-positioned to claim major trophies next season.
Asked whether there had been any progress in talks over a new contract for Partey, Mikel Arteta said last month: ‘Yes, there is progress with all the players.
‘I’ll leave that to [sporting director] Andrea [Berta] and the club to decide and to talk about.
Pushed on whether the intention is to keep Partey, Arteta added: ‘The intention is very clear. I’ll leave that to Andrea and the club to take a step forward.’
Arsenal have identified several attacking targets, including Alexander Isak, Benjamin Sesko, Viktor Gyokeres, and Liam Delap, as they look to strengthen their frontline.
Additionally, manager Mikel Arteta is set to reinforce his midfield with the £51 million acquisition of Spanish international Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad.
Despite Zubimendi’s arrival, Partey’s role in the squad is unlikely to be significantly impacted, especially with Jorginho set to depart this summer.
Earlier this month, Declan Rice praised Partey, highlighting his crucial influence within the team.
‘The best thing about playing with Thomas [Partey] is the calmness he brings to play with the team,’ Rice said.
‘Before I came to Arsenal there was so much talk about how good he is. He doesn’t always get the recognition he deserves. I feel quite lucky that Thomas is there and he lets me roam up and down.’
Partey has played 164 matches for Arsenal since joining the club in 2020 in a £45m deal from Atletico Madrid.
