Transfer Centre

Arsenal 'switch focus to signing Thomas Partey, Houssem Aouar'

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 16 September 2020

Arsenal 'switch focus to signing Thomas, Aouar'

Arsenal will reportedly switch their focus back to signing Thomas Partey and Houssem Aouar after tying captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang down to a new three-year contract.

Arsenal have reportedly turned their attention to completing deals for midfield duo Thomas Partey and Houssem Aouar after tying captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang down to a new contract.

Aubameyang finally ended speculation over his future yesterday by putting pen to paper on a three-year deal worth a reported £250,000 a week, which could rise to £350,000 a week with bonuses, add-ons and image rights.

However, The Mirror reports that the Gunners have not finished with their spending this summer and that they will now focus on bolstering their midfield ranks.

Thomas and Aouar have been tipped as Arsenal's top targets for a number of weeks now, but Mikel Arteta is likely to need to sell players before he can buy.

Atletico Madrid are demanding more than £50m for Thomas, while Lyon want at least £40m for Aouar, who has also been linked with Manchester City.

Arsenal do have a number of players they are willing to offload in order to raise those funds, though, with a £20m deal to take Emiliano Martinez to Aston Villa having already been all but confirmed by the goalkeeper.

Arteta is also open to selling Sead Kolasinac, Matteo Guendouzi and Lucas Torreira, all of whom are deemed surplus to requirements at the Emirates Stadium.