Arsenal have ramped up their pursuit of Thomas Partey by reportedly leaving a £43.5million offer on the table for the Atletico Madrid star.
The Ghanaian midfielder has become a key figure at the Wanda Metropolitano this season, featuring 35 times across all competitions to help Atletico reach the Champions League quarter-finals.
However, Partey has a release clause in his contract and according to Corriere dello Sport, Mikel Arteta’s side have launched a £43.5m bid.
The report also claims that he is just ‘one step away’ from moving to the Emirates Stadium.
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Arteta is desperate to rebuild his Arsenal squad after taking over as manager in December following a very turbulent season.
The Gunners languish in ninth position in the Premier League, winning just nine times out of a possible 28, and Arteta is seeking reinforcements to make inroads on the top four.
Arteta is reportedly holding out for a defensive midfielder to help protect Arsenal’s shaky defence, with Lucas Torreira and Co struggling to nail down a regular starting spot.
However, Partey still has three years remaining on his contract with Atletico, and the club are looking to tie him down to a new deal.
The LaLiga outfit wants to reward his hugely impressive form with a pay rise and they hope they can lock him in until 2025, while inserting a much bigger release clause into his terms.