EXCLUSIVE: Partey wants Arsenal stay but makes transfer preference clear

Steve Kay

• Updated: 22 Mar 2024 17:07 CDT
• 3 min read

Exclusive

Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey favours a move back to LaLiga at the end of the season if he cannot remain with the Gunners, FootballTransfers understands.

Partey’s contract at the Emirates Stadium expires in 2025 While the player’s favoured option is to stay put, the Premier League title hopefuls are eager to sell in order to boost their financial position.

There have been no talks over extending his deal, although the door remains slightly ajar for Partey to save his Arsenal career.

Sources close to the 30-year-old have informed FootballTransfers that although there were huge wage offers from clubs in the Saudi Pro League at the beginning of the current season, the Ghana international wishes to move back to LaLiga, where he previously enjoyed a fruitful spell with Atletico Madrid.

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Two Spanish teams follow Partey

Real Sociedad are one of the clubs have expressed their interest in signing the former Atletico Madrid defensive midfielder.

The outfit from San Sebastian have already done business with the Gunners in signing Kieran Tierney on a one-year loan deal, but it appears a move for Partey could be trickier to broker.

La Real are willing to pay no more than €25 million for the midfielder, which is half the price that Arsenal splashed out on him in 2020 when they acquired him from Atletico Madrid.

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There has also been an audacious enquiry from struggling outfit Almeria, where Partey spent one season on loan. Rock bottom of LaLiga and so far adrift of safety with nine games left in the season, their hopes of landing Partey look about as distant as their survival prospects. Even if they were to pull off a miracle recovery, the player’s wages look an insurmountable obstacle.

Partey only has six appearances for the Gunners this season, with the Emirates favourite plagued by injury issues. When he was involved at the beginning of the campaign, he was not used in his usual central midfield role but instead as a right-back by manager Mikel Arteta.

Despite his status as a fringe player, Partey would prefer to see out his contract in north London, yet Arsenal are actively seeking new blood in midfield and it appears impossible for him to remain at the club.