Arsenal have been linked with Atletico Madrid star Thomas Partey for some time now, but their hopes of a deal may be fading away.
Mikel Arteta wants a new midfield enforcer at the club, and Partey has been the main name linked with filling that role at the Emirates Stadium.
The Daily Mail reported earlier this month that Arsenal are desperate to sign Partey, and were trying to raise funds to sign him.
Arteta and technical director Edu had allegedly approved a move for Partey following Francis Cagigao’s recommendation, but it would all come down to money.
Now, Ghana Soccernet claim that Arsenal are set to miss out. They report that Partey is instead set to sign a bumper new deal to stay at Atletico, snubbing the Gunners.
Partey would allegedly double his money from £65,000-a-week to £130,000-a-week, whilst his release clause is being bumped up from £43million to £87.2million.
If true, Arsenal would have to move away from the 27-year-old and look to other targets – and Toulouse star Ibrahim Sangare is a popular name with Arsenal fans on Twitter.
Sangare maybe isn’t quite as polished as Partey, but he is five years younger and would come much cheaper given that Toulouse have been relegated from Ligue 1.
Fans took to Twitter to suggest that Arsenal should now pivot to Sangare, believing he is ‘perfect’ for the Gunners given his price tag and his huge potential, even if he has some way to go before reaching Partey’s level.
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