Thomas Partey could join Granit Xhaka as an Arsenal midfielder to seal a move away from Emirates Stadium this summer. After the Gunners upped their demands to sell Xhaka to Bayer Leverkusen, a new agreement has been reached which will see the Switzerland international join the German club for £21.5 million, as football.london understands.
Sealing arrivals has been the ultimate priority for Mikel Arteta and Edu thus far in the summer window with Kai Havertz as the only confirmed addition. However, that will change in the coming days with both Jurrien Timber and Declan Rice set to undergo Arsenal medicals with official announcements to follow shortly after.
The Gunners had been deep in negotiations with West Ham over over the last few days regarding the payment structure of their £105m proposal for Rice. After numerous days of talks, it has been agreed that £100m in guaranteed funds will head the way of West Ham over three instalments paid within the next 24 months.
As for Timber, football.london understands a £38.5m deal is in place to sign the Netherlands international. With those two major moves finalised, Arsenal can switch their focus onto several players who could follow Xhaka in sealing a departure from north London.
Kieran Tierney and Folarin Balogun have been the main two names linked to leave throughout 2023, with Arsenal hoping to generate between £70m-£80m from their sales. However, Partey appears to be above both when it comes to the likelihood of being sold.
Numerous Saudi Arabian clubs are interested in the 30-year-old, while Juventus have also chucked themselves into the hat of potential destinations. The Gunners are yet to make a firm decision on whether Partey will be on their books for the 2023/24 campaign, but they have set a clear price tag stance if him leaving is the chosen option.
READ NEXT: Arsenal news and transfers LIVE: Declan Rice deal finally done, medical set, Tchouameni offer
According to The Sun, serious offers that arrive for Partey will be considered and they must be in excess of £30m. Amid the interest from Italy and the Middle East, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano provided an update on Partey while also delving into Arsenal's midfield plans.
On CaughtOffside, he wrote: "Thomas Partey has interest from Juventus and from Saudi clubs, but as of now, this is still nothing advanced. There has also been a verbal agreement for Granit Xhaka to join Bayer Leverkusen, which has been in place since May.
"It’s very advanced, but now it’s up to Arsenal, they will look to resolve the final details of the Rice story and then decide on Xhaka and Partey.” Romano has also noted that Arsenal choosing to keep Partey will likely end any interest in Romeo Lavia, however if an exit is deemed as the correct choice, the Gunners will remain in the race with Chelsea and Liverpool for the Southampton star.
Who would you keep and sell at Arsenal this summer? Let us know below!
