Owen Hargreaves has tipped Arsenal to sign a Premier League midfielder to interchange Thomas Partey this summer.
Partey, 31, is coming to the top of his current contract on the Emirates Stadium and has been linked with summer moves to Atletico Madrid and Barcelona.
The Ghana midfielder has been at Arsenal since 2020 and the club decided to dump him last summer following a frustrating 2023-24 campaign.
Nevertheless, Partey has been one among Mikel Arteta’s most vital players this season and his impressive form has led to speculation he might be offered a brand new deal.
Partey’s representatives have nevertheless been involved with other clubs a couple of summer move, with La Liga giants Atletico and Barca each believed to be involved in securing his signature.
Get personalised updates on Arsenal on a regular basis
Get up to search out news in your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Join to our newsletter after which select your team within the link we’ll send you so we are able to get football news tailored to you.
At this stage a summer move looks the more than likely consequence for Partey, who has made 161 appearances for the Gunners since his £45m move from Atletico.
Partey’s departure – and a summer switch for Jorginho – would force Arsenal to sign at the very least one recent midfielder to bolster Arteta’s squad ahead of the 2025-26 season.
Arsenal are believed to be leading the race to sign Spain midfielder Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad but Hargreaves believes the Gunners could also look to bring an England international to the club.
‘Someone I like is Adam Wharton,’ Hargreaves said on Rio Ferdinand’s YouTube channel. ‘He gets in your team [Arsenal].
‘If Mikel Arteta saw him he’d go, “that’s my guy”. Say if Thomas Partey leaves, Wharton is a player.
Mikel Arteta on Thomas Partey’s Arsenal future
Asked whether there had been any progress in talks over a brand new deal for Thomas Partey, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said last week: ‘Yes, there may be progress with all of the players.
‘I’ll leave that to [sporting director] Andrea [Berta] and the club to make your mind up and to speak about.
Pushed on whether the intention is to maintain Partey, Arteta continued: ‘The intention may be very clear. I’ll leave that to Andrea and the club to take a step forward.’
‘The thing with Adam that’s crazy is his vision. He’s two steps ahead. His reading of the sport if you watch him… his vision and his touch is nearly pretty much as good as anyone.
‘I would love him at Manchester United but I believe that system may be very area of interest and you would like legs to play in that position under Ruben Amorim.’
Wharton, 21, has won many admirers over the past two seasons while thriving at Crystal Palace.
The previous Blackburn Rovers midfielder earned a spot in Gareth Southgate’s squad for Euro 2024 last summer and has been tipped to be an England regular in the approaching years.
Wharton, who has been linked with Manchester United and Chelsea in addition to Arsenal, is believed to be valued at £70m by FA Cup semi-finalists Palace.
Earlier this month, Ferdinand revealed he wanted his former club United to sign Wharton this summer, even likening the Eagles star to Michael Carrick.
‘I might sign one other central midfielder this summer to play alongside Manuel Ugarte,’ Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel.
‘That player must have the option to take the ball and transfer it up the pitch. You understand who I might do for? Adam Wharton.
‘I might go and get him. The rationale I might take him is he can get on the ball and transfer it up the pitch, he’s got an important range of passing.
‘I believe he can be an important addition to the United squad. He jogs my memory of Michael Carrick a bit.’
Partey impressed during Arsenal’s Champions League quarter-final victory over Real Madrid but will miss the primary leg of the semi-final tie with PSG through suspension.
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the most recent news on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
MORE: Graeme Souness sends warning to Aston Villa over Marcus Rashford transfer
MORE: Wayne Rooney names ‘top five players’ within the Premier League this season
MORE: Man Utd move step closer to signing Premier League star ahead of Arsenal and Chelsea
