Owen Hargreaves has tipped Arsenal to sign a Premier League midfielder to replace Thomas Partey this summer.
Partey, 31, is coming to the end of his current contract at the Emirates Stadium and has been linked with summer moves to Atletico Madrid and Barcelona.
The Ghana midfielder has been at Arsenal since 2020 and the club decided to offload him last summer following a frustrating 2023-24 campaign.
However, Partey has been one of Mikel Arteta’s most important players this season and his impressive form has led to speculation he could be offered a new deal.
Partey’s representatives have nevertheless been in contact with other clubs about a summer move, with La Liga giants Atletico and Barca both believed to be interested in securing his signature.
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At this stage a summer move looks the most likely outcome for Partey, who has made 161 appearances for the Gunners since his £45m move from Atletico.
Partey’s departure – and a summer switch for Jorginho – would force Arsenal to sign at least one new midfielder to bolster Arteta’s squad ahead of the 2025-26 season.
Arsenal are believed to be leading the race to sign Spain midfielder Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad but Hargreaves believes the Gunners could also look to bring an England international to the club.
‘Someone I like is Adam Wharton,’ Hargreaves said on Rio Ferdinand’s YouTube channel. ‘He gets in your team [Arsenal].
‘If Mikel Arteta saw him he’d go, “that’s my guy”. Say if Thomas Partey leaves, Wharton is a player.
Mikel Arteta on Thomas Partey’s Arsenal future
Asked whether there had been any progress in talks over a new deal for Thomas Partey, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said last week: ‘Yes, there is progress with all the players.
‘I’ll leave that to [sporting director] Andrea [Berta] and the club to decide and to talk about.
Pushed on whether the intention is to keep Partey, Arteta continued: ‘The intention is very clear. I’ll leave that to Andrea and the club to take a step forward.’
‘The thing with Adam that’s crazy is his vision. He’s two steps ahead. His reading of the game when you watch him… his vision and his touch is almost as good as anyone.
‘I would like him at Manchester United but I think that system is very niche and you need legs to play in that position under Ruben Amorim.’
Wharton, 21, has won many admirers over the past two seasons while thriving at Crystal Palace.
The former Blackburn Rovers midfielder earned a place in Gareth Southgate’s squad for Euro 2024 last summer and has been tipped to be an England regular in the coming years.
Wharton, who has been linked with Manchester United and Chelsea as well as Arsenal, is believed to be valued at £70m by FA Cup semi-finalists Palace.
Earlier this month, Ferdinand revealed he wanted his former club United to sign Wharton this summer, even likening the Eagles star to Michael Carrick.
‘I would sign another central midfielder this summer to play alongside Manuel Ugarte,’ Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel.
‘That player needs to be able to take the ball and transfer it up the pitch. You know who I would do for? Adam Wharton.
‘I would go and get him. The reason I would take him is he can get on the ball and transfer it up the pitch, he’s got a great range of passing.
‘I think he would be a great addition to the United squad. He reminds me of Michael Carrick a bit.’
Partey impressed during Arsenal’s Champions League quarter-final victory over Real Madrid but will miss the first leg of the semi-final tie with PSG through suspension.
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