Atletico Madrid are trying to increase midfielder Thomas Partey’s release clause, according to reports. Arsenal were said to be keen to pay his €50m (£45m) buyout fee but it is believed his current club could look to double it.
The Ghanaian international is a key player for the Spanish side, and it appears that they will make a move to prevent him from leaving. Fans on Twitter are hoping that the player doesn’t sign a contract extension:
If he signs the contract we're screwed
— KingSarr (@SalibaKing) March 19, 2020
Maybe this makes Arsenal trigger it asap.
— AllThingsArsenal?⚪️ (@arsenal_toronto) March 19, 2020
If we cant get him, Soumare and Camavinga are available for thesame amount of money or even less
— Aisha (@AishaSharu) March 19, 2020
— Richard o'grady (@richardogrady85) March 19, 2020
Wtf ??
— Adebayo Oluwafemi (@adebayofemi07) March 19, 2020
Pay the 40m nowwwww
— ?????????? (@Silentinho) March 19, 2020
100m! Na
— MGR2020 (@TheMgr2020) March 19, 2020
Don’t blame them hence why we need to move quick to get partey. Top dms aren’t available so makes sense for Atlético to try n do that
— AKHG (@akhgooner) March 20, 2020
Thomas would no doubt add some much-needed steel and physicality in the middle of the park for the Gunners, but the 26-year-old is in high demand.
Much may depend on the player himself, who has spent his whole career at Atletico. If he has ambitions of playing abroad, he could well turn down a new deal, keeping Arsenal in the race for the Ghanaian, but there has been no indication yet he is looking to leave the Wanda Metropolitano.
