Journalist Charles Watts has now provided an update on what the future holds for Arsenal star Thomas Partey.
There has been plenty of speculation over the future of Thomas Partey. Clubs in Saudi Arabia have been credited with an interest in signing the Arsenal midfielder in the upcoming January transfer window.
The Ghanaian has only been able to have a limited impact for the north London club so far this season. Injuries have restricted him to just four Premier League outings. He last appeared for the club as a substitute in the 1-0 triumph over Manchester City.
Having subsequently undergone a procedure, the 30-year-old is not expected to be fit before the new year.
Mikel Arteta will certainly be frustrated by the fact he has had to be without Partey so often this season. This is not a new problem, either, as fitness issues have plagued the player regularly since he made his £45 million switch from Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2020.
Arsenal are certainly in the market for a new midfielder, recognising that if Partey cannot be relied upon to be fit and available consistently, then they need reinforcements in that part of the pitch.
Thomas Partey still committed to Arsenal
However, Charles Watts has now talked down the prospect of Partey making an imminent exit from the Emirates Stadium. Speaking on his Inside Arsenal YouTube channel, the reporter said, “nothing that I’ve heard would absolutely back that [rumours of Partey leaving] up, that there is some substance behind that, about a desire to leave or anything like that. It’s just not what I’m hearing.”
On the subject of when Partey might be seen back in action for the north London club, Watts revealed that the player is aiming to make a return ahead of schedule, saying, “I know that Thomas is working really hard to get himself back fit, he is certainly targeting being back this year.”
Whilst the player may, in fact, be happy to stay at Arsenal, the club themselves should still be seriously considering moving him on. Certainly, if they receive a fair bid for Partey this winter, Arsenal would be wise to accept it and reinvest those funds into a replacement for the player who would be able to actually play on a regular basis.
The time has come for Arsenal to move on from Partey, and if he can indeed get back to full fitness before the end of the year, that will make him easier to shift when the market opens.
It could be that Arsenal, ultimately, look to keep Partey until the end of the current campaign before seeking to replace him in the summer. However, that would be a risky move, given it can hardly be guaranteed that the midfielder’s body won’t fail him again soon after the window shuts, leaving the Gunners with no means of adding extra depth until after the end of the season.
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