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Arsenal: 3 transfer targets if Thomas Partey doesn’t work out
By Josh Sippie
Arsenal has all eyes on Thomas Partey, but Atletico Madrid won’t let him go easily. Here are three other holding midfielders… just in case.
So much of what Arsenal wants to accomplish in the coming transfer window can be achieved via Thomas Partey. He is the holding midfielder we so obviously need as well as being a massive help to the defense, just by being himself.
But being one of the best holding midfielders in the league, he isn’t going to be an easy get. Even though his release clause is a very reasonable £45m, Atletico Madrid is working hard to keep Partey, even going so far as to double his wages with a new contract offer. As of yet, nothing has been accepted, but they have a lot of time to convince him otherwise.
With that in mind, we have to. start considering the possibility that Partey won’t be available. After all, we’ve had opportunities to sign him before but he’s stayed in Spain, so there is always that chance that he makes the same decision again.
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Should that be the case, we need back-ups. He isn’t the only holding midfielder in the world, even though he may very well be the best. Here are three other defensive midfielders we could sign in his stead.
3. Konrad Laimer
Amidst the slew of talented players that RB Leipzig has linked with exits, Konrad Laimer is not one of them. He flies under the radar despite what has been a tremendous young career in the Bundesliga. What makes Laimer so enticing is that he isn’t just a holding midfielder, though if you look at his defensive work, you could limit him to just a holding midfielder and be just fine with the endproduct.
No, Laimer also has the composure to handle the ball, to get forward, and to contribute to the attack. At just 22-years-old, he has a bright future ahead of him, he has yet to have his hype train leave the station and his very modest £25m market valuation is generous to say the least.
In a world where we don’t get Thomas Partey, Konrad Laimer is a steal. Even if we do get Thomas Partey, actually.