Fenerbahce president Ali Koc has approached Thomas Partey to ask the Arsenal star to do one thing before he can target the midfielder’s transfer to the Super Lig squad.
The Yellow Canaries have identified Partey as a potential target for the upcoming market. He has caught their interest as the 30-year-old will enter the final year of his contract at Arsenal in July. North London chiefs have never extended his deal since the Ghanaian joined in 2020.
Arsenal gifted Partey a five-year contract upon triggering his £45m release clause at Atletico Madrid on deadline day in September 2020. He has since amassed just 115 appearances for the Gunners from an available 128 fixtures following an injury-ravished career in N5 to date.
Fenerbahce approach Thomas Partey to discuss a transfer from Arsenal
Partey approaching the final year of his contract with Arsenal is also tempting Fenerbahce to target a transfer. That is according to Fotospor, which even reports that Koc has already got in touch with the 45-cap anchor to signal his intent to target a deal when the window opens.
But Koc has asked Partey to wait as he cannot advance the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium team’s pursuit yet. Koc is currently running for re-election as Fenerbahce’s president with a vote set for the club’s general assembly on May 30 to 31 with a potential second vote on June 8 to 9.
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Koc will contact Arsenal to further Fenerbahce’s bid to secure Partey’s transfer if he wins his club’s presidential election. The Gunners are not opposed to selling the Ghanaian in the off-season for the right bid. But Fenerbahce only intend to begin negotiations at €10m (£8.5m).
Partey, for his part, responded positively to Koc’s request to wait for Fenerbahce’s elections with a potential transfer from Arsenal on the horizon. He only featured in 14 Premier League games during the 2023/24 season and started in nine after missing 21 games through injury.
Mikel Arteta ‘would love to keep’ Thomas Partey at Emirates Stadium
Arsenal initially lost Partey 56 minutes into their third game of the Premier League season in August when he developed a calf injury. But the Ghanaian only returned for 15 minutes last October before also sustaining a thigh issue in training that kept him out of action to March.
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After a steady run from their bench, Partey – who Yaya Toure calls ‘unbelievable’ – started in Arsenal’s final five fixtures. Manager Mikel Arteta also said ‘I would love to keep him’ at the start of May amid GiveMeSport reporting Saudi Arabian sides are preparing lucrative offers.
Now, Arteta may have a fight on his hands to keep Partey at Emirates Stadium with Arsenal vulnerable to offers from Saudi Arabian squads and Fenerbahce. The Gunners will not want to risk the midfielder entering the final year of his deal and departing for free next summer.