Juventus have held talks over a potential deal for Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey.
According to Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, on Monday, Serie A giants Juventus had representatives in London to discuss potential transfer deals with clubs. Arsenal star Thomas Partey is said to be amongst their targets.
As stated by Di Marzio, Juventus are keen to ascertain if the Gunners would be open to allowing the Ghanaian to depart the Emirates Stadium on loan.
Currently injured, Partey hasn’t been seen in action at the Emirates Stadium since his cameo against Manchester City.
Partey’s fitness issues are becoming a major concern for Mikel Arteta. He simply cannot rely on the 30-year-old to be fit and available when needed.
Arsenal must get timing of Thomas Partey departure right
The time has come for Arsenal to move on from Partey. However, unless they have a direct replacement lined up and simply need to get the 85-cap Ghana international’s wages off the books in order to get that incoming deal done, they should not countenance allowing him to leave on loan. A permanent exit, ideally with a decent fee attached, is what is required.
From the player’s perspective, a move to Juventus would suit Partey. They are one of the biggest, most historic clubs in Europe, and the £45 million former Atletico Madrid man would likely thrive with the slightly slower pace of the game in the Italian top flight. His body clearly isn’t up to the task of dealing with the strains of the Premier League anymore.
The most important thing, before allowing Partey to leave on any kind of basis, is securing his replacement. This could be a tall task in the upcoming January transfer window, especially with Arsenal likely to focus their investment elsewhere in the squad. It seems more likely, then, that Partey will wave Arsenal goodbye at the end of the current campaign.
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