Thomas Partey picks his ‘preferred’ next club ahead of Arsenal contract expiry
Thomas Partey is said to favour a move to Barcelona this summer (Getty) Thomas Partey has made Barcelona his ‘preferred’ destination in the summer transfer window, according to reports in Spain. The midfielder is just about to finish his fifth season at Arsenal having joined in a £45 million deal in October 2020. Partey’s contract with Mikel Arteta’s side expires at the end of the season and the Gunners have yet to reach an agreement over a new deal. According to Mundo Deportivo, Partey ‘is now looking for a change of scenery’ and the midfielder’s first-choice option would be to join Barcelona on a free transfer this summer. The report adds that Barca are ‘aware’ of Partey’s contract situation at Arsenal and the 31-year-old is on the Catalan club’s shortlist of midfield options. Get personalised updates on Arsenal everyday Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we’ll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. Arsenal could lose both Thomas Partey and Jorginho on free transfers this summer (Getty) Partey already has extensive experience of playing in La Liga having spent five seasons at Atletico, plus a loan spell at Almeria. Alongside Partey, Arsenal face the prospect of losing Jorginho on a free transfer this summer as he contract also expires at the end of the season. The 33-year-old has already held extensive talks with Flamengo and returned to Brazil during the international break. Speaking about the situations of Partey and Jorginho earlier this season, Arteta stressed that he did not want contract talks to overshadow the end of Arsenal’s campaign. “I don’t want to start to have these conversations now, I want to have these conversations much later because the focus has to be on what we have to do in the season,’ Arteta said in January. ‘They can understand the intentions and then we can see what we can do. ‘It’s close communication with them to understand as well what their idea is, what they want to do, express as well our intentions and then let’s decide for everybody what is the best option there. ‘But it’s two players that I am very, very happy with. They are such a value in the squad. And I want to keep them as well with the right mind frame, because the most important part of the season is coming now.’ For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Thomas Partey has made Barcelona his ‘preferred’ destination in the summer transfer window, according to reports in Spain.
The midfielder is just about to finish his fifth season at Arsenal having joined in a £45 million deal in October 2020.
Partey’s contract with Mikel Arteta’s side expires at the end of the season and the Gunners have yet to reach an agreement over a new deal.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Partey ‘is now looking for a change of scenery’ and the midfielder’s first-choice option would be to join Barcelona on a free transfer this summer.
The report adds that Barca are ‘aware’ of Partey’s contract situation at Arsenal and the 31-year-old is on the Catalan club’s shortlist of midfield options.
Get personalised updates on Arsenal everyday
Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we’ll send you so we can get football news tailored to you.
Partey already has extensive experience of playing in La Liga having spent five seasons at Atletico, plus a loan spell at Almeria.
Alongside Partey, Arsenal face the prospect of losing Jorginho on a free transfer this summer as he contract also expires at the end of the season.
The 33-year-old has already held extensive talks with Flamengo and returned to Brazil during the international break.
Speaking about the situations of Partey and Jorginho earlier this season, Arteta stressed that he did not want contract talks to overshadow the end of Arsenal’s campaign.
“I don’t want to start to have these conversations now, I want to have these conversations much later because the focus has to be on what we have to do in the season,’ Arteta said in January.
‘They can understand the intentions and then we can see what we can do.
‘It’s close communication with them to understand as well what their idea is, what they want to do, express as well our intentions and then let’s decide for everybody what is the best option there.
‘But it’s two players that I am very, very happy with. They are such a value in the squad. And I want to keep them as well with the right mind frame, because the most important part of the season is coming now.’
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
