Edu identifies perfect Partey replacement as bargain £25m summer chance emerges
Arsenal is prepared to let Thomas Partey leave the club this summer, despite his contributions to their successful 2022/23 season. The arrival of Jorginho in January reduced Partey's playing time towards the end of the campaign, but the imminent departure of Granit Xhaka seemed to suggest that the Ghanaian midfielder would stay for at least one more season as Arsenal undergoes a significant midfield overhaul under Mikel Arteta.
However, reports indicate that Arsenal is open to Partey's departure, with Saudi clubs Al Nassr, Al Ahli, and Al Khaleej showing interest in the 30-year-old. Serie A giants Juventus have also entered the race, with personal terms allegedly agreed between Partey's representatives and the Italian side, according to Sky Sport Italia.
Arsenal's Technical Director Edu and manager Mikel Arteta now face the challenge of finding a suitable replacement, with Manchester City also keen on West Ham's Declan Rice. However, Arsenal has identified alternative options, including Brighton's Moises Caicedo and Southampton's Romeo Lavia. The club has also discussed potential moves for Mohamed Kudus, Mason Mount, Gabri Veiga, Martin Zubimendi, and Xavi Simons.
Interestingly, it appears that Chelsea's Kai Havertz could be part of Arsenal's midfield rebuild, as Arteta plans to utilize the versatile German in an advanced central midfield role, despite his predominantly playing as a lone striker last season. A £65 million deal between Arsenal and Chelsea for Havertz has reportedly been agreed upon, with the player undergoing the initial stages of his medical over the weekend. However, while Havertz's arrival strengthens Arsenal's attacking options in midfield, there is still a need to acquire defensive-minded players for the center of the park.
In April, Portuguese outlet O Jogo linked Arsenal with an interest in Benfica's Florentino Luis. Initially, Luis's £105 million release clause seemed to dampen Arsenal's hopes, but recent reports from Gianluca Di Marzio suggest that Benfica would be willing to begin negotiations at a significantly reduced fee of £25 million.
As Arsenal looks to reshape its midfield, Partey's potential departure opens up opportunities for new signings to bolster the squad. The club faces competition from domestic and international rivals in securing suitable replacements, but with negotiations and discussions underway, Arsenal is actively working to strengthen its midfield options for the upcoming season.
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