Atletico Madrid are eyeing up a move for Thomas Partey as Diego Simeon plots a midfield rebuild this summer.
The 31-year-old is out of contract this summer and appears destined to depart Arsenal on a free transfer.
Barcelona were understood to be amongst his admirers, but a return to Atletico and a reunion with Simeone now appears to be on the cards, in line with Marca.
Mikel Arteta has remained coy on Partey’s future over the past couple of months but with no progress made on contract talks, Arsenal appear able to sanction his departure.
Indeed, the Gunners are already understood to have lined up a substitute in the form of Spain international Martin Zubimendi.
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Why did Thomas Partey leave Atletico Madrid?
(Credits: Motion Images via Reuters)
Partey, meanwhile, left Atletico in the summertime of 2020 after he did not agree a brand new deal having wanted a big pay rise.
Arsenal pounced by activating a £50 million release clause in his contract and have enjoyed the height years of his profession.
Partey has, arguably, enjoyed the most effective season of his Arsenal profession this term having finally appeared to have shrugged off the injuries which have plagued him up to now/
He put in an amazing performance against Real Madrid last night as Arsenal booked their place within the Champions League semi finals.
His night, nonetheless, ended on a sour note after he picked up a useless yellow card and can now miss the primary leg of the sport against PSG in a fortnight’s time.
Former Arsenal winger Theo Walcott fears Partey might be an enormous miss against the French champions and is worried that the one choice to Arteta appears to be Mikel Merino who has done a superb job as a makeshift striker.
‘Arsenal and Paris St-Germain are definitely the 2 best teams on this season’s Champions League, and the semi-final goes to be a very different story to when Mikel Arteta’s side beat them 2-0 on the Emirates in October,’ Walcott told the BBC.
‘PSG hadn’t really clicked then, but they’ve now. Arsenal might be ready for them, but I feel they may miss Thomas Party, who’s suspended after his yellow card tonight.
‘He was so essential on the Bernabeu, not only with the best way he was getting back into the back-line and to assist out with the quantity of crosses he was coping with tonight.
‘Partey was also helping Arsenal to slow the ball down and to manage the midfield. The PSG game is all going to be in regards to the midfield for me and Declan Rice is now probably going to play a game with someone who he’s less acquainted with.
‘Mikel Merino can drop in there, but which may affect the forward line more due to where he has been playing recently.
‘That is what Mikel Arteta might be serious about now, and he might tinker with a couple of things against Ipswich and Crystal Palace, to try things out before the semi-final.’
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