Arsenal: 3 reasons Thomas Partey-Alexandre Lacazette swap a smart deal

Arsenal may swap Alexandre Lacazette for Thomas Partey this summer to secure the Atletico Madrid midfielder. Here are three reasons why it would be a smart deal.

Arsenal have pursued Atletico Madrid midfielder, Thomas Partey, for some time. The problem has always been money. The Gunners are not exactly flowing in cash as it is, and in the current climate, they are even more pressed up against the limit. However, as reported by Goal this week, even if they fail to secure Champions League football, which was considered necessary to signing Partey, the club can still sign the Ghanian with a bit of invention. That involves swapping him for longtime Atletico target, Alexandre Lacazette.

Here are three reasons why that would be a smart deal.

3. Lacazette needs a new contract

If Arsenal are to keep Lacazette beyond this summer, they will have to sign him to a new contract. As Head of Football Raul Sanllehi vowed two years ago, and has since broken many times already, the club will not allow players to enter the final two years of their contracts. Lacazette’s currently expires in 2022.

It is a precarious situation. As with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang last summer, who now sits with just one year remaining on his current deal and poses an even greater conundrum, the Gunners have an ageing centre-forward who is approaching 30 and is coming off a down year. How much money do you want to invest in that type of player?

Conversely, you do not really want to let him leave without getting excellent value for him. Lacazette is integral to the team and losing him would be troublesome. And so, if Arsenal do not want to sign him to a bumper extension, which is what they must do if they want to keep him in a sensible manner, a sale becomes imperative.