Atletico 'offer to double Partey salary to £130,000 a week to ward off Arsenal'

Atletico Madrid are reportedly ready to double Thomas Partey's salary to £130,000 a week in order to fend off interest from Arsenal.

The Gunners have been heavily linked with the midfielder, who has produced some excellent performances this season.

As reported by The Guardian, Atletico are eager to tie Partey to a new deal until 2025, especially given that his current contract has a release clause of £43.6m (€50m).

The proposed new deal would see Partey's release clause increased to £87.2m.

Partey, a defensive midfielder, has been capped by Ghana on 27 occasions, and, at the age of 26, is approaching what should be the best years of his career.

Arsenal can already call upon Lucas Torreira and Matteo Guendouzi at the base of the midfield, but Partey, it would appear, represents a superior option.

Partey joined Atletico as a youngster in 2012 and featured for their B side before gaining experience on loan at Mallorca and Almeria.

He has now made 174 appearances for Atletico and won the Europa League in 2018.