Arsenal are dealing with the prospect of shedding a first-team star to Barcelona within the coming months, following a ‘life-changing’ begin to the season for the participant in query.
It would not be the primary participant to maneuver from the purple aspect of North London to Catalonia. Emmanuel Petit and Marc Overmars grew to become the primary couple to, early in Arsene Wenger’s reign, earlier than the likes of Alexander Hleb, Thomas Vermaelen and most notably, Cesc Fabregas all made the identical transfer afterward.
With William Saliba linked with Actual Madrid , too – and Gabriel Jesus rumoured to be near an exit – Arsenal might face huge adjustments to their squad, as supervisor Mikel Arteta appears to maintain the core of a workforce collectively who might problem for silverware over the approaching years.
Arsenal star is on Deco’s listing at Barcelona
Barcelona sporting director Deco at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys (Picture credit score: Cristian Trujillo/High quality Sport Photographs/Getty Photographs)
Barcelona had a quiet summer season, all in all. This was a necessity, as a result of monetary restrictions on the membership, with Dani Olmo their solely important signing.
The Blaugrana are already planning for subsequent summer season, nonetheless, and have recognized that midfield is an space of concern. With Marc Bernal injured proper now – ranked eleventh in FourFourTwo’s most fun youngsters on the earth listing for this season – a lot of the burden has fallen on fellow La Masia graduate, Marc Casado.
Marc Bernal’s harm has been an enormous loss for Barcelona (Picture credit score: Wealthy Graessle/Icon Sportswire through Getty Photographs)
With this in thoughts, targets are being drawn up for subsequent summer season. Certainly one of which, is Arsenal star Thomas Partey, in accordance with Spanish outlet Relevo .
The report states that the Ghanaian “modified his life” over the summer season to return to health for the Gunners, beginning the season alongside Declan Rice in Arteta’s midfield. Partey has lately been linked with Juventus , too, forward of his contract expiring subsequent summer season.
“Barcelona made it clear of their planning for this season that signing a central midfielder was key,” Relevo writes. “Nonetheless, three situations appeared that modified the state of affairs.
“The primary was Marc Bernal, [who] received [manager] Hansi Flick over in preseason and didn’t want too many video games to grow to be a starter. The second, Marc Casado, emerged in the summertime, alongside him and has continued to develop in [Bernal’s] absence.
“And the third is that, regardless of the looks of [Bernal and Casado], Flick didn’t contemplate it key that [to incorporate] a traditional pivot . Thomas [Partey, however] is a multi-purpose midfielder who, at first look, could look like a very good possibility for the Barça midfield.”
VIDEO Why Angel Gomes Is The EXACT Participant England Have Been Lacking
The report goes on to state that Partey’s capability to play at right-back is one other constructive for the No.5, who started Arsenal’s final win towards Southampton inverting into the centre of the park. Partey has been a constant starter for Arteta, nonetheless, this season, with the report stating that he’s again in favour now that he has regained health.
Regardless of this, it could seem that Arsenal could be open to letting the participant go. Arteta has already set situations to let the participant go away prior to now, along with his asking worth mentioned to have been slashed final 12 months to discover a suitor.
Thomas Partey appears prone to go away Arsenal subsequent summer season
Thomas Partey has struggled at Arsenal during the last couple of seasons with health (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
In FourFourTwo’s view, Arsenal must be taking a look at letting Partey go away subsequent summer season. Despite the fact that they won’t recoup any of the cash they might obtain for the 31-year-old, it could release some huge cash on the wage invoice, with the Ghanaian’s wage believed to be one of many highest on the membership.
Declan Rice is prone to be Arsenal’s long-term No.6, with latest addition Mikel Merino additionally able to enjoying the function. Jorginho can be out of contract subsequent summer season, with academy prospect Myles Lewis-Skelly coming by – however with Partey’s constant harm points, he merely can’t be relied on.
Partey is price €18 million, as per Transfermarkt . In virtually 5 years at Arsenal, he has performed simply 102 league video games.