Thomas Partey wants to sign for Arsenal as club consider Alexandre Lacazette summer swap transfer with Atletico Madrid
THOMAS PARTEY wants to join Arsenal this summer and hopes a deal can be done with Atletico Madrid, according to reports.
The Ghana star, 26, is high on Mikel Arteta's wish list as the Gunners boss looks to strengthen in the middle of the park.
And according to , the holding midfielder has made it clear he is intent on making the switch to North London.
It is thought he is desperate to prove himself in the Premier League next season.
The reports come following his standout performances across both legs of the Champions League last-16 tie against Liverpool, which the Spanish side won 4-2 on aggregate.
Partey's release clause in his Atletico contract is around £43.5million but it is unlikely Arsenal will be able to afford that, especially if they miss out on the Champions League.
Alexandre Lacazette is one of four players who reportedly could be sacrificed to help finance a deal for Partey.
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Matteo Guendouzi, Lucas Torreira and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are also thought to be at risk.
But with the LaLiga outfit interested in Lacazette, they could try and work a swap transfer with the Gunners.
In a transfer market where transfer fees are expected to be lower than normal, more player swaps are likely.
Partey's dad, Jacob, told a radio station how talks between his son and Arsenal were ongoing – but that Atleti are determined to hold on to him.
However, Partey's representatives denied Partey Snr's comments and claimed the reports are "totally untrue".
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But the 26-year-old's agents were recently forced to apologise after uploading a social media post asking fans to vote on his next club.
Meanwhile, Arsenal are still facing a summer tug-of-war for the Ghanaian's signature, with Juventus and Bayern are also eager to prise away Atleti's No5, as well as Manchester United.
Rio Ferdinand has urged his former club to press ahead with a move.
