Mikel Arteta gives green light on Thomas Partey departure.

Mikel Arteta gives green light on Thomas Partey departure.

Thomas Partey’s move from Arsenal has been approved, with Turkish heavyweights Galatasaray in talks with the midfielder.

The Gunners completed the £105 million signing of Declan Rice from West Ham earlier this summer, implying that manager Mikel Arteta was willing to let Partey go. Granit Xhaka has already departed North London this summer, so the Ghanaian’s departure may leave the club lacking in midfield.

Arteta appeared to rule out the club selling the former Atletico Madrid star earlier this summer. “Thomas Partey is a super important player for us and for me, and we want him in the team, that’s for sure,” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. However, it looks that the situation has shifted.

Several teams, including Juventus, have been linked with a move for Partey this summer, and he is expected to pique the interest of the Saudi Pro League. Galatasaray of Turkey, on the other hand, has formalised their interest and begun transfer talks.

According to Turkish magazine Takvim, Gala has initiated negotiations for the versatile midfielder, with an £8.5 million bid. While that proposal was failed, Arsenal reportedly told them that a £12 million offer would enough to close the transaction.

Partey and Rice began together in the Arsenal midfield against Nottingham Forest on the opening day of the Premier League. “Yeah, they can play together,” Arteta said earlier this summer. “I had that planned. We need guys who can play together if you want to develop the squad and increase its quality.

“We need players in the same positions who have to fight for their places and that’s something we haven’t had over the last few years. We want to improve that and that’s why we brought in Declan as well.”

“Yes,” Arteta answered when asked if he anticipated Partey to stay. Every time I spoke to him and had a dialogue with him, he expressed a desire to be with us. “There’s nothing there for me.”

According to the most recent source, Galatasaray vice-chairman Erden Timur has spent a significant amount of time discussing a move, and all parties are confident that a deal can be reached. If the deal is approved, it will bring an end to the midfielder’s three-year stay at Arsenal, where he has five goals in 101 games.