‘If I am Grealish’: Ian Wright says £45m Arsenal star isn’t worth his transfer fee

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Ian Wright has claimed that Thomas Partey isn’t worth the £45 million Arsenal paid for him, just like the £100 million Manchester City paid for Jack Grealish, as he told Premier League Productions (27/01/22 at 12:30 pm).

Both players were signed up by Arsenal and Manchester City after they activated release clauses in their contracts, which Wright now thinks are at ‘extraordinary’ numbers

In comparison to Grealish, and in footballing terms, those in north London only paid £45 million for Partey’s talents after he swapped Atletico Madrid for Arsenal in 2020 (Sky Sports).

As for Grealish, it was well-documented that the Premier League champions paid a British transfer record of £100 million to Aston Villa for the player.

Just like with Partey and Grealish, former England striker, Wright, doesn’t think these players are worth what is put in their contracts.

“These extraordinary prices and releases clauses that they put in,” said Wright. “They aren’t meant to be met. They aren’t meant to be paid.

“It is meant to put people off. But now we are in a situation where people can afford to buy them.

“If I am Jack Grealish, then I am saying ‘that’s the release clause’. He was happy at Villa, then somebody has paid the release clause.

“The same with Thomas Partey at Arsenal. Is he £50 million? I don’t think he’s that much. It’s the release clause.”

When there was talk about Arsenal possibly signing Partey, there was a big clamour from the supporters to get the deal over the line.

And, in typical Arsenal fashion, they left it until deadline day to meet his release clause, as Atletico Madrid went on to win the La Liga title the following season.

That must have hurt for the Ghana international because he missed out on such a historical moment with the Spanish giants.

But, Partey will be hoping for some success in Arsenal colours, even though a trophy won’t be coming their way this term, as they plot a return to Champions League football, but they have a fight on their hands.