Arsenal are close to signing Atletico Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey and the move is expected to be announced at the end of August or in early September, according to FootballGhana.com.

The website cites “reports” that the Gunners have agreed to pay the 27-year-old’s €50m (£45m) release clause and the move will be finalised over the next couple of weeks.

Partey is certainly the London club’s number one target this summer, and fans will be delighted if this news turns out to be true, but it is wise to take this story with a large pinch of salt.

No reliable source or journalist has claimed that Arsenal have triggered the Ghanaian international’s buyout fee and, as things stand, there have been no reports coming out of Spain that the player is close to leaving.

The Gunners do not have a large transfer budget and it is believed they will not be able to meet the release clause without selling other players first.