Arsenal’s Thomas Partey has been given permission to discuss a move away from the club this summer amid interest from Saudi Arabia, according to reports.
The Ghanaian has struggled with injuries since his arrival at the club, but has emerged as a vital cog when fit and started 28 times for the Gunners as they fell to an ultimately disappointing second-placed finish after leading the Premier League for much of the season.
Midfield is an area that is set to undergo a major overhaul in north London though, with Granit Xhaka set to join Bayer Leverkusen this summer in a deal worth £13m, and at least two midfielders being targetted in the transfer window.
Additionally 30-year-old Partey, who has two years left to run on his contract in north London, could be moved on, with the Gunners looking to add Declan Rice and at least one more midfielder to their ranks this summer.
As per 90min, Mikel Arteta and co. have ‘have given midfielder Thomas Partey permission to explore a transfer to the Saudi Pro League’ in the hope that they may even receive a fee greater than the £45m that they shelled out in 2020 for his services.
Saudi Arabia are looking to put the Pro League firmly on the map and are hoovering up ageing talent from across the continent, with moves for Chelsea quartet Edouard Mendy, Kalidou Koulibaly, Hakim Ziyech and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang all in the works to add to their acquisitions of N’Golo Kante, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo in the past six months.
The Gunners ideally want to add two midfielders, a forward and a right sided defender this summer, with a move for Kai Havertz at an advanced stage and a second bid for Rice having been submitted over the weekend.
They have also been credited with an interest in relegated midfielder Romeo Lavia and Brighton’s Moises Caicedo, though it is believed that Chelsea are leading the race for the latter.
