Shock Man Utd raid on Arsenal gets thumbs up, with Arteta ditching fearsome pairing if selling up

A Man Utd treble-winner has given his seal of approval to the Red Devils raiding Arsenal for a wantaway star who might never get the chance to form a fearsome pairing at the Emirates.

The Gunners are on the cusp of replacing Granit Xhaka with Declan Rice. Xhaka has joined Bayer Leverkusen in a deal worth £21.4m, while Rice will arrive from West Ham to the tune of £105m (add-ons included).

Mikel Arteta generally operated with a 4-3-3 formation last season, with Martin Odegaard and Xhaka flanking Thomas Partey in the midfield three. Xhaka was afforded the chance to assume more of a box-to-box role in the system and thrived on the greater attacking responsibility.

However, despite Xhaka now departing, recent reports have claimed Partey too could make way. The Ghanaian is a known target for Juventus and several sides in Saudi Arabia.

TEAMtalk previously revealed Arsenal were actively trying to shift Partey to Saudi Arabia. The logic there is a move to the burgeoning Saudi Pro League would see a much higher transfer fee received than if moving within Europe.

However, shock reports in Spain later claimed Man Utd had emerged as a contender to snap up Partey too.

The Red Devils will listen to offers for Fred, Scott McTominay and Donny van de Beek this summer. With Marcel Sabitzer also departing following the expiry of his loan spell, a new midfielder aside from Mason Mount may be required.

Now, via the Manchester Evening News, United treble-winner, Dwight Yorke, gave the thumbs up to his former club signing Partey.

However, in Yorke’s eyes, Mikel Arteta would be missing a trick if ridding himself of Partey before allowing him to form an imposing partnership with Declan Rice at the base of midfield.

Of course, that would require Arteta to switch from a 4-3-3 formation to a 4-2-3-1.

“Thomas Partey wouldn’t be a bad signing for Man Utd,” said Yorke.

“But it depends on whether Mikel Arteta changes his formation to 4-2-3-1 – where he has two defensive midfielders, where both Declan Rice and Partey can play together.

“Having a player like Partey makes Man Utd or Arsenal more adaptable because they can play different positions with his qualities.”

Man Utd too reliant on Casemiro – Yorke

Yorke went on to endorse a Man Utd move for Brighton’s Moises Caicedo too, though acknowledged his price tag will likely torpedo that plan. The Seagulls are understood to value the Ecuadorian around the £100m mark.

“Price tags are ridiculous in football now,” continued Yorke. “It is what it is, but Moises Caicedo is a damn good player and had a great season for Brighton.

“It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Man Utd sign him, because he plays in a position that we need more depth in.

“You see the change in quality when Casemiro comes out of the team due to suspension or injury: we don’t look the same. Caicedo would give that energy in the midfield.

“He’s very functional in the directness of his play and he’s also aggressive and a great tackler. I’m not surprised to see Chelsea are in for him too.”

If Caicedo does leave Brighton this summer, a move to Stamford Bridge is by far the likeliest outcome. Personal terms between Caicedo and the Blues have long since been agreed.

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