Report: Atletico offer Partey new deal to fend off Arsenal interest

Atletico Madrid are willing to double midfielder Thomas Partey's wages in an effort to ward off interest from Arsenal, reports Fabrizio Romano of the Guardian.

The Ghanaian midfielder's contract expires in 2023 and contains a €50-million release clause. Atletico, keen to retain the 26-year-old star, are offering to double his current salary of £65,000 per week. They also want to increase his release clause to over €100 million with a contract that would tie him to the Wanda Metropolitano until 2025, Romano adds.

Partey has been with Atletico since 2012. After breaking through the youth ranks, he made his first-team debut in 2015 following a pair of loan spells. He's been one of the hottest names on the rumor mill in recent months, with multiple clubs said to be interested in his services.

Arsenal are yet to make an official bid for the central midfielder, but manager Mikel Arteta is "keen" to add him to his squad during the upcoming transfer window, according to Romano.

Partey featured in 24 of Atletico's 27 league matches prior to the coronavirus-induced work stoppage, and started all eight of the club's Champions League games, scoring three goals between the two competitions.