Let's Parley

Let's Partey

I saw yesterday that some are now linking Tottenham with 27-year-old (28 next June) Atlético Madrid central midfielder Thomas Partey.

Arsenal want Partey, he is their first choice  midfielder but the Spanish want his release clause of £45.69m (€50m - AUS$81.88m - US$56.07m) met. The Gunners can't afford that price.

Atlético meanwhile, do not want to sell The Ghana international (26 caps, 9 goals, 2 assists) who starts 79% of their LaLiga games and are offering to double his salary to extend his contract.

Partey is an important player for Diego Simeone and

Transfermarkt value him at £36m (€39.89m - AUS$64.97m - US$44.99m) so if the management don't budge on their asking price, I can't see him being sold.

There is interest across Europe because of that release clause, it is rather low by Spanish standards and I'd expect it to be doubled at least when, as I'm assuming he will, signs a new contract.

Despite the Tottenham and Arsenal links, interest comes in the shape of German giants Bayern Munich, French giants PSG, Italian giants Juventus and Inter Milan.

PSG Head Coach Thomas Tuchel feels the French team have is one. a lack of depth in central midfield and is looking for option, which, as we know, Tanguy Ndombélé.

Partey's contract runs until 2023 so there is no urgent need to sell and after his last contract extension he called them "the club of his life" so clearly he has an affinity with them and is unlikely, therefore, to be prised away.

His release clause is out of our price range and we wouldn't want to overpay for a player anyway so you can safely ignore all rumours linking us with him. Spurs will watch him but won't be looking to buy him.