The summer transfer window is not too far away, although the current uncertainty over what will happen in the summer still looms large.
There has now been no Premier League football for a few weeks because of the outbreak of coronavirus around the world, with a three-week lockdown currently in operation in the UK.
However, it doesn’t stop work being done behind the scenes in order to make a plan ahead of the summer transfer window - whenever that may be.
One player who has been linked with a move to Arsenal when the window opens in Atletico Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey, and during a Q&A session with Gunners’ fans on Facebook, football.london ’s senior Arsenal writer James Benge gave the latest on the club’s chase for the Ghanaian.
“It’s a really tough one to get a reading because Atletico want him to sign a new contract,” he said when asked about Arsenal’s chances of signing the player.
“There’s long standing interest in Partey from Arsenal’s perspective. That is the sort of player from what I’ve heard that Arsenal will be looking at in the summer; a powerful midfielder who can win the ball and can dominate central areas and can combine well with the other options in the squad.”
“The trade off is if Atletico really push for that new contract and are prepared to give him a significant pay rise and assurances around his first-team football it’s tough to know how Arsenal beat them to the punch there.”
“Potentially Partey would have an interest in playing in the Premier League and that’s what you’ve got to hope. If he does become available in the market there will be a real fight on for him.
“So, he’s certainly a player where Arsenal would think it would be a great fit for them, whether or not they get that across the line my suspicion might be no.”
Partey has become a key player for Atletico, making 35 appearances in all competitions so far this season including helping his team overcome Premier League leaders Liverpool in the last 16 of the Champions League.
