ARSENAL are ready to listen to offers for Thomas Partey when they finally complete the signing of £105million Declan Rice.
But they are not actively looking to sell the 30-year-old Ghanaian international and will only consider serious bids in excess of £30million.
Partey was one of Mikel Arteta’s most important players last season as they finished runners-up to Manchester City and secured Champions League qualification after a six-year absence from Europe’s top competition.
But he noticeably ran out of steam during the title run-in which prompted fresh doubts about his ability to sustain top form over an entire campaign.
Now Arteta regards Partey as the ideal central midfield back-up for the incoming Rice, who is set to complete his club record move from West Ham in the next week.
And news of Partey’s change of status has sparked interest from a number of clubs in Saudi Arabia, where Arsenal’s £30million valuation would not be a problem.
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Partey was one of Arteta’s first major signings for Arsenal when he joined in a £45million deal from Atletico Madrid in 2020.
But his first two years in England were blighted by a series of persistent injuries and it was only last season that he was able to perform on a consistent basis.
One of the club’s highest earners on £260,000-a-week, his contract is due to expire next year with the option of a further 12 months to protect Arsenal against the threat of losing him as a free agent.
Now much depends on whether he is willing to accept playing understudy to Rice when the England international arrives at the Emirates.
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Ateta has already given the green light to the departure of Granit Xhaka in a £21.5million move to Bayer Leverkusen.
But he still has Jorginho, Sambi Lokonga and Mohamed Elneny available to play the holding midfield role if required.
Lokonga, though, is also considering his future after an unsuccessful loan spell at Crystal Palace during the second half of last season.
The 23-year-old Belgian international, who cost £17million from Anderlecht two years ago, is becoming increasingly frustrated by his lack of first team action and says: “I will try to go somewhere I will play.
“That’s the most important thing for me. I need to play game after game.”
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