Arsenal’s summer transfer window will certainly be interesting.

The Gunners are poised to miss out on Champions League football this season – they are 10th and sit nine points behind fifth-placed Manchester United.

A fifth-placed finish could secure qualification to next season’s Champions League because of Manchester City’s ban but it appears remarkably unlikely that the Gunners will be able to make up that ground.

Their summer transfer plans may be dictated by qualification for Europe but it appears that they are continuing to make plans to invest in the squad.

Per The Athletic’s David Ornstein, the Gunners are stepping up their interest in signing Atletico Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey.

The 27-year-old has made 30 appearances in La Liga this term, scoring against Eibar and Valencia.

He has a release clause of €50 million (£45.2m) but the Gunners want to bring that figure down if they can.

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Partey is said to be willing to move to Arsenal but it remains to be seen if a fee can be agreed.

GIVEMESPORT’S Harry Sherlock says…

Partey is an excellent defensive midfielder.

The Ghana international has been with the Spanish giants since 2015 and, this season, he has posted excellent numbers.

Per WhoScored, he averages 2.1 tackles per game in La Liga, 1.4 interceptions, 1.2 clearances, and 1.8 dribbles.

As a squad upgrade, and a potential asset to replace Granit Xhaka, he would be an excellent acquisition.

Compared to the Switzerland international, Xhaka has averaged 1.6 tackles per game, 0.6 interceptions, 1.8 clearances, and 0.8 dribbles, per WhoScored.

In every asset bar clearances, Partey is the superior player.

Arsenal should do everything they can to make this deal happen.