La Liga title hopefuls Barcelona have reportedly identified Arsenal stalwart Thomas Partey as a viable target for the upcoming summer transfer window.
According to Spanish news outlet Sport, Hansi Flick’s men closely follow Partey’s contract wobble in North London, hoping to lure him back to Spain at the end of the season.
The Ghana international’s deal at the Emirates Stadium runs out in June 2025.
Despite his prominent first-team role under Mikel Arteta, renewal talks have never gained momentum, leaving the 31-year-old’s future in limbo.
Not long ago, the former Atletico Madrid midfielder seemed destined to depart Arsenal.
His eye-watering £200,000-a-week wages felt like a burden for the Gunners.
However, Partey has seemingly turned his fortunes around at the start of the new Premier League campaign.
Back to Arteta’s good grace, the Ghanaian star has started all seven top-flight matches this term, re-establishing himself as a vital first-team member.
That could prompt the back-to-back Premier League runners-up to re-evaluate their stance and potentially reopen contract discussions with the player’s camp.
Meanwhile, Barcelona are lurking in the shadows.
Strapped for cash amid a well-documented financial turmoil, the Catalan heavyweights have approached football transfers with caution, focusing on free agents and bargain deals to strengthen their squad.
Partey had a telling impact in La Liga during his seven-year stint in the Iberian peninsula before joining Arsenal for £45 million in the summer of 2020.
He has fortified his reputation as an elite midfielder in the Premier League over the past four years.
On that basis, Barcelona’s interest in his services is hardly surprising.
Whether Partey would fancy a move to Camp Nou remains uncertain.
His playing style resembles Franck Kessie, who swapped AC Milan for Barca in 2022, only to leave the club the following summer after a torrid year.
Kessie’s case could be a lesson for Partey to reconsider, as he might face similar struggles adapting to Barcelona’s system and competing for a regular starting spot.