Former Arsenal player Armand Traoré hopes that the Gunners will sign Thomas Partey from Atletico Madrid.
Partey, 27, has emerged as Arsenal’s top summer transfer target as Mikel Arteta seeks to strengthen the club’s midfielder ahead of the start of the 2020/21 season.
Armand Traoré remains confident that the London club will succeed in recruiting their long-tern target from Atletico Madrid.
”They must keep Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. I would strengthen the central defense. I would not mind a guy like Partey sitting in front of the defense, someone who is a little angry, he told talkSPORT.
”He reminds me a bit of Gilberto Silva or Vieira, someone who can go out and give the iron. I think Arteta does a fantastic job and I can only see them do well in the future to be honest, Traoré,” he added.
Atético boss Diego Simeone still sees Partey as a core part of his squad and is desperate to tie the Ghanaian down to a new contract which would remove that perilously low release clause, but Partey has thus far rebuffed all advances to try and facilitate a move to the Emirates Stadium.
While Partey is keen to make the move, he has refused to submit a transfer request and force an exit out of respect for Atlético. If Los Rojiblancos want him to stay, he will stay.
Arsenal’s interest to sign the Ghanaian international remains very real and there are already talks underway at the Emirates over how the club will raise £45m fee for the purchase of the ace midfielder.