🏟️🔥Barcelona ‘line up shock move for Arsenal star’ who is ‘expected to leave’ in 2025

Barcelona ‘line up shock move for Arsenal star’ who is ‘expected to leave’ in 2025

Barcelona are reportedly eyeing up a move for an Arsenal player, with the man in question ‘unlikely’ to sign a new deal at the Emirates.

Arsenal have started the season strongly and currently sit third in the Premier League. Summer signings David Raya and Riccardo Calafiori have impressed fans, while Mikel Merino is still looking to establish himself, having only made two appearances due to a shoulder fracture sustained shortly after joining. However, he is expected to take on a more significant role after the international break, having recently shown his fitness during Spain’s 1-0 win over Denmark, where he played 30 minutes.

Merino’s arrival has sparked speculation about Thomas Partey’s future, as his contract expires at the end of the season. TeamTalk reports that he is unlikely to be offered a new deal at Arsenal, allowing him to sign a pre-contract agreement with clubs outside England in January.

Spanish outlet Sport claims that Barcelona could be a potential destination for Partey, as new head coach Hansi Flick is reportedly a fan. The report notes that Barcelona expressed interest last summer, but Mikel Arteta opted to keep the midfielder at that time.

Thomas Partey joined Arsenal from Atletico Madrid in 2020 and has made 124 appearances for the club. Last season, he struggled with various muscle injuries, limiting him to just 16 matches across all competitions. However, he has fared better this season, featuring nine times so far.

Should he join Barcelona, he would likely take on a supporting role within the La Liga side, but his experience could be invaluable for young players like Pedri, Gavi, and Marc Casado.

Following Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over PSG on October 1, Mikel Arteta emphasized Partey’s continued importance to the team. “He’s shown good performances week in and week out,” the manager said. “The way he came back after the holidays was probably the best condition he’s been in. Now it’s about managing him, and he’s done really well.”

Galatasaray, Fenerbahce, and various Saudi Arabian clubs have also expressed interest in Thomas Partey. Although Juventus showed initial interest, their recent signings of midfielders Douglas Luiz, Khepren Thuram, and Teun Koopmeiners make a transfer for Partey unlikely.