Football
Exclusive: Unsettled Thomas Partey in Talks as Arsenal Chase Last-Minute Deal
Arsenal aims to secure a new contract with midfielder Thomas Partey before his current deal ends this month. Partey seeks better terms after performing well for the team. Potential moves to Fenerbahce and AC Milan are rumored but Partey prefers to stay at Arsenal. The team also eyes new signings, including Martin Zubimendi and top strikers.
Paris Saint-Germain v Arsenal FC - UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Semi Final Second Leg by James Gill - Danehouse | Getty Images
Arsenal remain hopeful they can agree a new contract with unsettled midfielder Thomas Partey before his deal runs out at the end of this month, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.
Ghana international Partey has been offered a new deal by the Gunners, but the 32-year-old is not happy with the new terms.
And having been a mainstay of the side that finished second in the Premier League last term and who reached the Champions League semi-finals, the former Athletic Madrid ace is understandably keen for the club to value his worth.
Partey is understood to be on a whopping £200,000 per week having penned £45million a five-year deal with the North London club in October 2020.
But the player and the Gunners have yet to agree a new deal and have less than a fortnight left to come to an agreement otherwise he will leave on a free transfer.
BAD BUSINESS
That represents bad business for Arsenal who invested heavily in a player who played 53 times for the three-time Premier League champions.
Partey is believed to have held initial talks with Fenerbahce boss Jose Mourinho about a potential move to Turkey to play at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium.
Italian giants AC Milan have also been linked with a move for the player, but our sources understand that is speculation.
And we are also led to believe Partey’s preference is to sign a new deal with Arsenal and has grown frustrated that the club will not meet his contract conditions after five years of loyal services at the Emirates Stadium.
Partey, who has represented his country 51 times, has played 130 games in the Premier League across the past five seasons.
He was a mainstay in the side between joining in 2020 and 2023, but his 2023-24 season was plagued with injuries and he managed just 14 league games.
But last season he returned to play 35 Premier League games – the most while he has been with the club – and chipped in with four goals.
NEW STRIKER?
Arsenal have signed Spain international Martin Zubimendi on a £51million deal from Real Sociedad, but the club have yet to officially unveil their new recruit.
Zubminedi’s arrival could limit Partey’s involvement next season, but Gunners boss Mikel Artea knows he needs strength in depth if the club are going to go deep in the Champions League next season as well as challenge for the Premier League title.
The Gunners have also been linked with trying to recruit a high-profile marksman, with Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres, RP Leipzig centre-forward Benjamin Sesko and Newcastle United goal machine Alexander Isak top of their hit-list.
Neil has been a journalist for longer than he'd care to remember, having written for national newspapers and respected publications for over 25 years. For the last three years he has worked freelance for BBC Sport, working on the production desk as a sub-editor and also as a writer, covering a whole range of sports.