Graham Hunter has told Sky Sports that a swap deal involving Arsenal and Atletico Madrid probably won’t materialise.
It’s been reported that the Gunners could swap striker Alexandre Lacazette for midfielder Thomas Partey, who has been heavily linked with a move to North London.
The French hitman revealed on social media earlier this week that there was no truth to the speculation that he could leave Arsenal, where is contracted until 2021.
And Spanish football expert Hunter claims that Atleti would want a ‘cash injection’ and therefore swapping Partey, one of their biggest assets, wouldn’t be on the agenda, though he did admit that the Primera Liga club are hunting for a striker.
He said to Sky Sports: “Right now, Atletico need the stability of a cash injection, and I think that would be more attractive on balance, but the current team’s primary flaw at the moment is a lack of goals.
“Lacazette has got the talent and the pace, there’s no question about that, but whether he’s what Atleti need right now with his salary, I’d be a little unsure.”
With the climate the way it is due to the global health crisis, swap deals could happen a lot more regularly when the transfer window opens.
Arsenal certainly don’t have the £45 million that Partey would cost [The Telegraph] lying around and therefore you can understand their desire to swap Lacazette for the Ghanaian powerhouse.
But Hunter is right, it isn’t mutually beneficial for both clubs.
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