Arsenal transfer exclusive: Thomas Partey contract update as Barcelona 'consider' shock move

Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey is yet to clasp talks with the Gunners implicit a caller contract, but a January exit is disconnected the cards, Charles Watts has told Sports Mole.

The Ghana planetary has entered the past six months of his statement with Mikel Arteta's side, meaning that helium is escaped to clasp pre-contract talks with overseas clubs up of a escaped transportation astatine the extremity of the season.

La Liga giants Barcelona are supposedly planning a daze swoop for Partey arsenic a replacement for Frenkie de Jong, and Arsenal would suffer a €50m (£41.9m) concern for thing if helium was to locomotion distant astatine the extremity of the season.

According to Gunners adept Watts, nary conversations person been held implicit the anticipation of prolonging Partey's contract, but the erstwhile Atletico Madrid antheral is "very happy" astatine the Emirates and determination is nary accidental that the nine volition see bids successful January unless a "ridiculous" connection is made.

"I can't spot there's immoderate mode they'd bash immoderate concern for Partey successful January," Watts said. "There's nary point, you're not going to get overmuch wealth for him with six months near connected his contract. Unless idiosyncratic came successful with a ridiculous connection that you had to judge from a concern constituent of view, which I don't spot anyone doing, past it conscionable doesn't marque immoderate consciousness to me.

"You spot him retired for the play and past person a discussion. As acold arsenic I'm aware, determination person been nary discussions yet with Thomas. He's precise blessed astatine Arsenal. He loves it successful London, conscionable had a caller babe implicit here, truthful he's settled. But determination haven't been immoderate declaration talks, surely arsenic acold arsenic I'm aware, connected him.

"And Mikel said himself precocious that helium doesn't privation immoderate of that worldly now. He wants to hold until the extremity of the season. I deliberation he'll beryllium getting offers from elsewhere arsenic good that volition astir apt beryllium longer and much lucrative than what Arsenal are offering. So arsenic blessed arsenic helium is successful London, he's got to look astatine that and deliberation for himself, for his family, what's the champion determination for him."

Partey arrived astatine the Emirates to overmuch fanfare from Atletico successful the summertime of 2020, but the midfielder struggled to enactment acceptable during his archetypal mates of years successful North London and did not genuinely marque a sanction for himself astatine Arsenal until his 3rd season.

Partey and Granit Xhaka formed a highly effectual treble pivot successful the 2022-23 run arsenic the Gunners mounted an unexpected rubric charge, and the Ghanaian has been cardinal to Arteta's plans erstwhile again successful the 2024-25 season.

Featuring arsenic some a fig six and exigency right-back erstwhile required, Partey has scored 2 goals and provided 2 assists from 28 appearances successful each competitions this season, starting 16 Premier League games and each six of the Gunners' Champions League league signifier matches truthful far.

However, the 31-year-old is inactive connected the aforesaid presumption helium signed upon his accomplishment successful 2020, which according to Capology sees him pouch £200,000 a week, making him the fifth-highest earner astatine the nine down Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Jesus, Declan Rice and Kai Havertz.

Partey has missed a full of 81 matches for nine and state implicit the past four-and-a-half years, and Watts tin recognize Arsenal's archetypal hesitation to necktie him down to caller terms, but Arteta volition not authorisation immoderate January merchantability owed to his existent value to the team.

Watts: 'No elemental decision to Partey talks'

© Imago

"It's a hard 1 with Thomas due to the fact that he's going to beryllium 32 astatine the commencement of adjacent season. His wounded grounds is not great. So I tin recognize from Arsenal's constituent of view, you'd look astatine that," Watts added.

"He's 1 of the apical earners astatine the club. And you deliberation tin we truly springiness him an hold owed to his age, his wounded record? So I tin recognize they're reasoning astir it. But from Thomas's constituent of presumption arsenic well, I deliberation he's shown this play erstwhile he's fit, he's been Arsenal's champion midfielder, there's nary uncertainty astir it.

"It's not going to beryllium a elemental conclusion, I don't think, to these imaginable discussions that volition hap further down the line, but not for January. Thomas is perfectly cardinal to this Arsenal squad astatine the moment.

"He's showing that he's fit, he's playing each week. Mikel could not bash without him astatine the moment. So no, thing volition hap this period and past the talks volition commencement towards the extremity of the play and a determination volition person to beryllium made."

Partey boasts 7 goals and six assists from 143 appearances successful an Arsenal garment and is expected to beryllium progressive erstwhile the Gunners instrumentality connected FA Cup holders Manchester United successful Sunday's third-round blockbuster.

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