Barcelona have reportedly started discussions to sign Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey on a free transfer after the Ghanaian made his contract demands to the Gunners clear.
As it stands, the 31-year-old will become a free agent at the end of the month, although talks over a new deal with the North London giants are believed to be ongoing.
Partey's first couple of years in North London were blighted by injuries, but the ex-Atletico Madrid man has largely banished his fitness woes to become a key part of Mikel Arteta's team.
The midfielder played 52 times in all competitions in the 2024-25 season, contributing four goals and three assists and earning high acclaim for his displays at the base of the midfield.
However, no agreement over a new deal has been reached with his representatives, leaving Arsenal at risk of losing their £42.5m man for nothing in just a few weeks' time.
Partey's 'ideal' outcome revealed as Barcelona talks begin
© Imago
According to The Sun, Barcelona are aiming to take advantage of the situation and have opened negotiations with Partey's entourage over a possible free transfer ahead of the 2025-26 season.
Talks with Arsenal over a renewal have been described as 'complex' and 'slow-moving', and both Barca and Partey's former club Atletico are casting a watchful eye over developments.
The report adds that the 31-year-old would 'ideally' like to remain at the Emirates Stadium, as he and his family are settled in the English capital, but he is not prepared to take a significant pay cut.
As Partey turns 32 later this month, he is under no illusions that he may only have one big contract left and thus wants any new deal to reflect his standing as one of Arteta's most dependable performers in the 2024-25 season.
Partey has contributed a total of nine goals and seven assists in 167 appearances for Arsenal since joining in 2020, and Arteta has publicly stated that he wants to keep the Ghana international at the club.
Partey future: An unenviable decision for Arsenal's money men
© Imago
According to football salaries website Capology, Partey is just one of five Arsenal players pocketing at least £200,000 a week and is the fifth highest-paid athlete at the club behind Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice.
As influential as Partey was in the 2024-25 season, keeping him on the same wage with a new deal would be a massive risk for a player of his age and with his fitness history, as there is always that fear of when the next injury will come.
Arsenal should get a £51m deal for Real Sociedad's Martin Zubimendi over the line in the not-too-distant future, and the Spaniard will no doubt eventually take over as Arteta's main number six.
However, the Gunners are already losing one defensive midfielder this summer in Jorginho, so to sever ties with Partey as well while only bringing in one replacement would leave Arsenal in a weaker position.
As a result, if the 31-year-old is willing to take a small hit on his wages, it is surely worth keeping him around for at least another 12 months, or until Arsenal can bolster their engine room further.
Ben Knapton
![Germany's Florian Wirtz celebrates scoring their first goal on June 14, 2024 [IMAGO]](https://sm.imgix.net/11/29/1x1.gif?w=1&h=1 "Germany's Florian Wirtz celebrates scoring their first goal on June 14, 2024 [IMAGO]")
