Arsenal receive Thomas Partey boost as Mikel Arteta decides on Hector Bellerin transfer deal


Here is your Arsenal morning digest for Thursday, February 25.

Partey available to face Benfica

Midfield enforcer Thomas Partey has been included in the Arsenal squad that will face Benfica in Athens this evening, football.london can reveal.

The Ghanaian international, who joined the Gunners from Spanish giants Atletico Madrid back in October, has experienced a stop-start season in his maiden campaign in north London with injury issues proving to be a regular occurrence.

Partey has missed the Gunners’ last three matches in all competitions after suffering a hamstring injury in the 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa earlier this month.

However, the midfielder has been given the green light to return against Benfica this evening after successfully coming through training at London Colney.

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It remains to be seen whether or not he will start the match or be named on the bench.

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Arteta eyes swap deal

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta would prefer a swap deal rather than receive the financial gain of losing Hector Bellerin this summer, according to reports.

In the last few days, it has emerged that Bellerin is keen on leaving the Emirates Stadium this summer in pursuit of a new challenge, with Paris Saint-Germain poised to reignite their interest.

The French heavyweights were keen on signing Bellerin last summer but they failed to strike a deal with the Gunners, who were reluctant to let go of the right-back at the time.

However, Bellerin has expressed his interest in leaving this summer. Should PSG lead the race for his signature, Arteta, according to transfer expert Duncan Castles, would prefer a swap deal, with Julian Draxler the name being discussed.

Castles said: “It is our information that Bellerin and his agent have told the club he wants to leave this summer. Arteta has decided we must make the best of the opportunity.

“The most likely suitors for Bellerin are PSG. And in that being the case, Arteta has told Edu that given the situation it is more viable to trade players, he has asked Edu to discuss the possibility of a swap deal for Julian Draxler.”

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Gunners eye Brugge ace

Arsenal will have to cough up as much as €20million if they are to sign Club Brugge defender Odilon Kossounou this summer, according to a report by Voetbal Belgie.

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The 20-year-old centre-back, who has been linked with the likes of AC Milan and Inter Milan in the past, is also on the radar of Wolverhampton Wanderers.

It is also claimed that the Gunners were monitoring Kossounou back in the summer and were looking to secure a deal for just £8.5million.

The Gunners are likely to be on the hunt for a new defender this summer, as David Luiz is yet to commit his future to the club beyond the end of this current campaign.





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