Reports have emerged revealing that Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey is seeking to leave the club during the upcoming summer transfer window, amid rumors linking him with a move to Spanish club Barcelona.
The Emirates Stadium in London will host the much-anticipated match between Arsenal and Real Madrid this evening, in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals, a match that could potentially be one of Partey’s last appearances in an Arsenal shirt.
Partey has so far failed to reach an agreement with Arsenal over extending his contract, which expires at the end of this season, leaving the door open for a free transfer during the summer window.
Earlier, the British newspaper ‘‘The Mirror‘‘ revealed Arsenal’s plans to offload 11 players at the end of the season as part of a restructuring effort, with Partey among those expected to leave, alongside other names such as Zinchenko, Jorginho, and Tomiyasu.
According to a report published by the Spanish newspaper ‘‘Mundo Deportivo‘‘, Partey is hoping to move to Barcelona for free, taking advantage of his current contractual situation with Arsenal.
The same report noted that Barcelona has included Partey in their list of targets, but his potential move depends on several factors, including the presence of three players currently occupying the same position: Marc Casadó, Bernal, and Frenkie de Jong, the latter of whom does not intend to leave the club.
The report concluded by stating that Barcelona’s management may reconsider their transfer plans if De Jong decides to leave in the summer or if they determine the need to sign a player to fill the right-back position, although this is not Partey’s primary role.