Report: Arsenal to pay £51m overall to land Thomas Partey

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According to the Express, Arsenal will end up paying £51m to sign Atletico Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey, despite his release sitting at £45m.

The report claims that the Gunners will have to stump up a further £6m in VAT, while they’ll also be giving the Ghana midfielder a £250k-a-week contract, giving the deal even more value.

Mikel Arteta appears to be within touching distance of landing Partey, a player he has courted for much of the window.

After missing out on Houssem Aouar, it appears Partey is going to be the midfielder who Arteta builds his team around, with the Gunners making the latest of plays to ensure they signed the 27-year-old.

Various sources, including the Independent, are claiming Partey is now in London and has completed a medical. He will sign a five-year deal with the Gunners, if reports are to be believed.

Money clearly not that much of an issue when it came down to it – TBR View

And it had to be that way, really. Arsenal needed a midfielder and the club needed to back Arteta after making a fine start to life in management.

Partey will add steel, quality, and a winning mentality to the central midfield area for the Gunners. That is something that has been missing for a number of seasons and will be a welcome relief for Arsenal fans.

This deal looks almost done and dusted, and even at £51m, should still be a bit of a bargain in the long run.