Athletico Madrid have rejected a second bid by Arsenal to sign Ghanian midfielder Thomas Partey.
Arsenal are in search of a top midfielder and sees the 27-year-old Partey as the ideal signing.
Arsenal has already seen one bid knocked back, and as reported by The Guardian, a second offer has failed as well. This time, the Gunners offered €25m (£23m) plus French midfielder Mattéo Guendouzi, but Atléti were not interested.
Los Rojiblancos have made it clear that Partey will not leave unless any interested side pays his £45m release clause, but Arsenal have previously warned Atléti they have no plans to cough up that kind of money.
Not only does this now leave Arsenal pondering what to do about Partey, it also presents the question of what to do with Guendouzi, who was banished from training after a clash with Brighton’s Neal Maupay triggered a fall-out with Arteta.
A swap deal involving Barcelona has been suggested, with either Philippe Coutinho or the pairing of Arturo Vidal and Ivan Rakitić touted as potential targets.
Get French Football News state there are yet to be any formal negotiations with Barcelona, but Guendouzi is hoping there soon will be as his preference would be to join the La Liga giants in the near future. The player’s agent remains in contact with officials at Camp Nou.
