The Athletic journalist David Ornstein claims Atletico Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey is interested in a move to Arsenal if the Gunners can put a financial package together to sign him.
It is believed that Atletico will only consider selling up if a team pays the Ghanaian’s €50m (£45m) release clause, but that isn’t the only problem.
Speaking on his “Ask Ornstein” show on the Tifo Podcast Youtube channel, Ornstein said Partey wants a contract worth £200,000 a week. Fans on Twitter had a mixed response to the story:
Its too much!
— Leul (@Leul57443366) August 11, 2020
@Arsenal get it done already
— Bunjoyraftulegit (@Bunjoyraftuleg1) August 11, 2020
It won’t be 200k a week it will be around 150k
— Jake.AFC (@jake40042538) August 11, 2020
I think the longer this drags the more likely we lose this player
— Jst-1ce (@Jst_1ce) August 11, 2020
100 or 150 is enough for him but not 200
— Maxwell Onyapidi (@OnyapidiMaxwell) August 11, 2020
Change the target???
— dk4936 (@lsGt9KesQv2K48v) August 11, 2020
There is a difference between wanting and making it happen, we must move with speed and get the player if he is part of our plans for next season or else we will keep on wanting him till the transfer window is closed.
— Barrack Otieno (@okushjanam) August 11, 2020
pls find another player …the guy is killing us
— anjey (@redjourney97) August 11, 2020
Give him what he needs
— Lawi (@lawi_pepe) August 11, 2020
£200k? Unlikely
— . (@goona000) August 11, 2020
Salary expectations from agents are usually very high and, if Arsenal do manage to find the funds to finance his transfer this summer, they would have likely factored in his wage well in advance and tried to negotiate down the player’s initial demands.
Considering the 55 staff that the club are making redundant, though, giving Partey such a high salary would certainly raise more question marks about the Gunners’ priorities.
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