Arsenal set to release star next summer as they do not plan to offer him new contract - Reports

Arsenal have no plans of offering their star footballer Thomas Partey a new contract and will release him next summer, according to recent reports. This comes as the Gunners continue negotiating to sign Mikel Merino from Real Sociedad.

The North London outfit signed the Ghana international from Atletico Madrid in 2020. He has been an instrumental player in the Gunners' midfield. His ability to control the centre of the pitch coupled with a penchant for scoring long-range goals make him a world-class midfielder for any club.

However, his stint with Arsenal has been plagued with injuries and, according to a report by Football Transfers, Mikel Arteta is ready to move on. Partey's contract runs through July 2025 and he will continue to be a part of the Gunners' squad this season.

He will reportedly remain a rotational player with Arteta preferring Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice over him. Mikel Merino's imminent arrival will give Arteta more options.

Should he stay fit throughout the season, Partey's presence will add much-needed depth to the Gunners' lineup.

The North London outfit have only signed Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna in this window. The Gunners remain busy even as their signing of Julián Álvarez from Manchester City was hijacked by Atletico Madrid.

Arteta's men will play their first game of the 2024-2025 Premier League campaign against Wolves on Saturday, August 17.

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Paul Merson believes Arsenal should have made a move for Pedro Neto

Chelsea continue their spending spree this season as well. Coming off the back of a turbulent last season, the Blues have spent heavily in the summer to bolster their already handsome-looking side. They're linked with Joao Felix, Victor Osimhen and Jadon Sancho.

However, they recently signed Pedro Neto for seven years from Wolves for a reported fee of £54m. Former Arsenal forward Paul Merson believes that the Gunners should've made a move for the Portuguese when they still had a chance.

Here's what he said (via Sky Sports):

"Someone else who I think can do really well is Pedro Neto at Chelsea. At the start of the summer, I thought he’d be a great signing for Arsenal. He suits them down to the ground and is a player who could have taken the load off Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli."

"So, that deal shocked me. If Chelsea can keep him fit, I think it is an incredible signing," he added.