Arsenal: 3 necessary transfers that won’t be frees or swaps

1. Thomas Partey

The one man that could determine the fate of our upcoming transfer window. Thomas Partey has been the most-linked man to the Emirates, and after his father spoke up about the potential of a move, that hype skyrocketed even more. Partey is a must-have, he’s the holding midfielder we’ve been dreaming of and we can’t get him for free.

Partey has a release clause of £45m, which, like Edouard, is a completely reasonable fee for what we’d be getting. Plus, in Partey’s case, there’s no haggling involved. That’s what we would pay. That’s how a release clause works.

There have been murmurings of including Alexandre Lacazette in a swap deal, but it never picked up any steam. And while I’m not completely opposed to it, doesn’t it make more sense to just upchuck the release clause and get him? Lacazette’s value is a major question mark and if we’re going to do business with Atletico, it may go beyond that release clause.

Straight cash money. That’s how we should be getting Partey. Not for free or a swap. Though honestly, however we get him is fine with me. It just seems like the most sensible way is through money.