Rio Ferdinand is laughing off suggestions that Thomas Partey is the ‘best defensive midfielder in the world’ as the injury-hit Arsenal ace faces up to a departure from the Premier League leaders.
In defence of Thomas Partey’s supporters, the Ghana international was outstanding last season. A man who once rated his debut season at Arsenal as a 4/10 putting together a string of eights and nines as Mikel Arteta’s side came within touching distance of glory.
But with a reoccurrence of those injury issues keeping him on the sidelines this term, and with Declan Rice thriving in his absence, it would be a surprise if Partey was still an Arsenal player when September 1st, 2024 rolls around.
And, on his Vibe with Five podcast, former Manchester United, West Ham and England defender Rio Ferdinand could not resist pointing out that those claims of Partey being the best number six on planet earth – especially wen Rodri is around – have aged about as well as the CGI in an early-noughties sci-fi flick.
Thomas Partey could leave Arsenal in 2024
“Thomas Partey is irreplaceable? I’ve not even heard him on this show this season!,” Ferdinand laughs. “He was the best defensive midfielder in the world last season?
“At the start of the season, you (co-host Joel Beya) said Thomas Partey is the best defensive midfield player in the land!”
With Rice outstanding since his club-record arrival from West Ham United, Partey isn’t even the ‘best defensive midfield player’ at the Emirates Stadium these days, the £105 million summer signing excellent again during Saturday’s nervy 1-0 win at Brentford.
Juventus interested
Serie A giants Juventus have been linked. Partey, however, is not the only deep-lying midfielder on their radar, Max Allegri’s side also considering Liverpool’s Thiago Alcantara and Tottenham Hotspur benchwarmer Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.
Fabrizio Romano, meanwhile, believes that, if given the choice, Arsenal would choose Aston Villa’s Douglas Luiz over Al-Hilal’s former Wolves skipper Ruben Neves if they look to bring in a potential Partey replacement in the New Year.
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