Atlético Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey will listen to offers this summer, according to Madrid-based journalist Patricia Cazón of Diario AS.
The 26-year-old had been set to sign a contract extension that would have doubled his current €50m release clause to €100m but that deal hasn’t been signed yet, despite being one of the club’s top-performing players and Atlético are keen to get a deal done.
The Ghanaian international signed a five-year contract with Atlético in January 2018 and talks are reportedly ongoing between the player’s representatives and the Madrid club regarding a salary increase and new contract. The box-to-box midfielder made his first-team debut for Atleti in November 2015 and has had interest from Arsenal, with head coach Mikel Arteta keen to add ball-playing midfielders to his team this summer.
The fact that he hasn’t signed a new deal, however, gives clubs hope that his intention is to listen to offers. Diego Simeone is concerned that Thomas, his midfield engine and a key player in his starting XI, is considering listening to offers that might come in for him.
“My agent is speaking with the club. Sometimes what we want we can’t have but I hope everything turns out well.” The midfielder says he is “proud to attract attention from more clubs” and says it motivates him to keep improving. “Leave? Sometimes it’s not the decision of the player, but the club too. If Atlético want me, I’ll be here until they don’t and then we will see what we’ll do.”
