EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal boss Arteta has NO intention of selling Partey in January

Steve Kay

• Updated: 2 Nov 2023 19:18 GMT
• 3 min read

Exclusive

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has no intention of selling Thomas Partey in the January transfer window, despite recent reports to the contrary, FootballTransfers can exclusively reveal.

This season Arteta has used Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard and, more often than not, Kai Havertz as his preferred midfield three in a 4-3-3 system.

Partey, who started 28 Premier League games as the Gunners finished as runners-up last season, has only made three of a possible 10 in the current campaign, and they were in a hybrid role between right-back and midfield.

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Arteta has shown a ruthless streak in recent months, allowing Granit Xhaka to leave for Bayer Leverkusen for €15 million and relegating last season's No.1 goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale to the bench in favour of David Raya, who arrived on loan from Brentford.

But he is not pushing Partey towards the Emirates exit anytime soon, according to transfer specialist Steve Kay.

Partey going nowhere… yet

"Despite recent rumours saying that Thomas Partey could leave in the January transfer window, Mikel Arteta has no intention of selling him," he exclusively revealed to FootballTransfers.

"It has also been rumoured Partey is unhappy with his lack of game time. This, I'm told, is also untrue. There are no plans to sit down and talk about a new deal, however, so the summer may be a different story in regards to him leaving."

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Partey, who joined from Atletico Madrid in a €50 million deal in October 2020, has seen his value drop to €18.6m per FootballTransfers' in-house algorithm, so potential suitors could be in for a bargain next summer.

Juventus were linked with a move for the Ghana international last summer, and their interest could intensify now that Paul Pogba faces a lengthy ban for abnormal levels of testosterone.

Saudi Pro League side Al-Khaleej were also reportedly interested in Partey's services.