Arsenal see second bid, plus player knocked back for €50m man

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Arsenal have failed to tempt Atletico Madrid into selling Thomas Partey after making a second offer, plus a player, claim reports.

The Gunners have made two offers for the man Mikel Arteta wants to anchor his midfield with next season.

The Guardian report that a bid of €25m plus a player was rejected a fortnight ago. Arsenal though returned with a second offer of the same amount, but this time with frozen-out midfielder Matteo Guendouzi also included.

Get French Football News also claim that Arsenal attempted to offload Guendouzi as part of the deal.

However, the offer was turned down by Atletico on Monday, with the LaLiga side unwilling to sell Partey for anything less than his €50m release clause.

Atletico boss Diego Simeone does not want to sell the Ghana international, but he admitted last month that the “best clubs” in Europe are after Partey.

“When he’s at his best level consistently, he’s so good that all the best teams in Europe are looking at him,” Simeone said.

 

 

Arsenal boss Arteta may well have drawn a line under a move for a player, who looks to be out of their price range.

Spanish publication AS even claimed earlier this month that Partey had decided to commit to a new deal with Atleti.

Guendouzi fails to apologise

Matteo Guendouzi Arsenal TEAMtalk

As per the report, his new deal claimed he would see his salary doubled to £130,000 a week. Furthermore, his exit clause is due to raise from €50m to €100m.

However, confirmation of that has not been forthcoming.

As far as Guendouzi is concerned, Arteta is still hoping to sell the 21-year-old, who has been frozen out for 10 games following his behaviour in the defeat to Brighton.

Guendouzi was reportedly training alone following his bust-up with Brighton’s Neal Maupay.

Arteta did not intend for Guendouzi to be sidelined for so long, but Football London claimed he has still  not apologised to Arteta.