Arsenal are on the verge of completing a deal for their number one target, Thomas Partey, according to the latest reports coming out of Spain.
The Atletico Madrid star has recently turned down a contract extension and will look to force through a move to the Premier League, with Arsenal favourites to sign him.
Spanish news outlet La Razon have today released a report stating that it is now an “open secret” that Partey will join the Gunners this summer, providing Mikel Arteta a much needed boost to his plans for next season.
At 27 years of age, Partey is in the peak years of his footballing career and can slot straight in to the Arsenal line-up as a missing puzzle piece that the club have been screaming out for since Aaron Ramsey departed.
La Razon’s report even details that Atletico Madrid are resigned to the fact they’ll lose the Ghanaian, and have created a shortlist of three possible replacements that includes Mauro Arambarri, Zambo Anguissa and Indrissu Baba.
The links to Partey are getting stronger by the week and it seems a matter of time before Arsenal can pay his £45million release clause and get their squad back in order.
The futures of Dani Ceballos and Matteo Guendouzi remain unclear, with the latter having fallen out of favour with Arteta on multiple occassions due to his behaviour off the pitch.
Ceballos on the other hand is determined to have a career at his parent club, Real Madrid, and his chances of another spell at Arsenal rest on a balance beam after an inconsistent run of games in the heart of midfield.
Despite the lack of confidence in the duo, Arteta is likely to be forced to use the duo once again on Thursday night as Arsenal travel to Southampton, with Granit Xhaka and Lucas Torreira still sidelined.