After trailing the opposition by five points in the 2022–2023 season, the Gunners only lost out on first place by two points. Several players will be leaving Arsenal this summer to make way for new arrivals, as Mikel Arteta knows he needs to bolster his group. Thomas Partey is one such player who has been strongly opposed to leaving. Due to his season-long struggles with injuries, the 30-year-old midfielder’s contract is scheduled to expire in 12 months, and Arsenal is aggressively looking for a buyer. Partey played in 16 games for the team this season, and according to Team Talk, Arteta is willing to allow the Ghanaian to leave because Declan Rice is now his primary midfield target.
Fenerbahce and Barcelona are interested in signing Partey this summer and are poised to launch an offer when the transfer window opens. There are other suitors waiting in the wings, and Arsenal’s sporting director has already identified his ideal replacement for the experienced center-mid. Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Arsenal will sell Partey in the coming weeks, with Aston Villa star Douglas Luiz being one of the players they are considering to fill the void. “There are several players on the list. One player they’ve always appreciated is Douglas Luiz, but negotiating with Villa is never easy,” Romano told JD Football
.“They have several players lined up. There is a good chance they will bring in a new midfielder; Thomas will leave; and Jorginho has extended his contract,” Romano said. Luiz has indeed been on Arsenal’s radar for some time, and he has played a significant role in Aston Villa’s success since Unai Emery’s arrival at the club. The 26-year-old made 53 appearances in all competitions for Villa this term, scoring an impressive 10 goals and providing 10 assists. He generally plays as a defensive midfielder and could be an ideal partner for Rice in a double pivot. However, luring Luiz away from Villa won’t be easy, especially after they qualified for the Champions League. Emery’s side values the Brazilian at around £85 million, so it will be interesting to see how high Arsenal are willing to go with their offer.
