Exclusive: Arsenal could consider midfielder transfer exit for the right price, says expert

Arsenal could be ready to consider selling midfielder Thomas Partey this summer, but only for the right price as there seems little desire to push him out of the exit door.

The Ghana international returned to Mikel Arteta’s starting line up for yesterday’s 5-0 win over Chelsea, and it certainly showed how much he’s been missed this season after an injury-hit campaign.

Still, speaking exclusively to CaughtOffside for his latest Daily Briefing column, journalist Charles Watts explained that his age and injury history have been factors the club have considered when assessing his future.

Watts says Arsenal considered selling Partey last summer, but, like this year, they were never particularly desperate to get the player off their books, so it will be down to any interested clubs to make a suitable offer for the 30-year-old.

Partey transfer: Should Arsenal let experienced midfield man leave?

Watts was impressed with what he saw from Partey in the win over Chelsea, as he praised the way his presence can get the best out of Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard, so this perhaps looks like an argument for keeping the player for another year, even if it then means losing him on a free at the end of his contract.

“Thomas Partey’s future is certainly going to be one of the big talking points of the summer. Last summer Arsenal were open to selling Thomas, but no tempting offers came in. They weren’t pushing him out of the door or anything, but given his age, his poor injury record and the fact he was one of the club’s biggest earners and was into the final two years of his deal, they would have cashed in if a good enough bid arrived,” Watts said.

“In the end, that didn’t happen, so they were happy to keep him around and I think this summer will