Mikel Arteta eyes surprise Thomas Partey replacement as Arsenal negotiations revealed

Brentford's Christian Norgaard could be in Arsenal's sights this transfer window. The 31-year-old midfielder, with two years left on his Bees contract, is among the potential targets as the Gunners aim to bolster their midfield.

Arsenal are on the brink of securing Spanish midfielder Martin Zubimendifrom Real Sociedad but may face the loss of Thomas Partey, whose contract runs out this month and has yet to agree an extension. Partey was a linchpin for Mikel Arteta last season, clocking up 52 appearances across all competitions, and his exit would leave a sizeable hole in the defensive midfield position.

This follows the departure of Italian international Jorginho, who swapped Arsenal for Brazilian outfit Flamengo after two-and-a-half years, playing a part in their FIFA Club World Cup triumph over Chelsea on Friday night.

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Norgaard linked up with Brentford in 2019 and played a key role in their promotion to the Premier League in 2021 via the play-offs. As skipper, he's been a driving force behind Brentford's five consecutive seasons in the top flight. Last term, under then-head coach Thomas Frank, who has since moved to Tottenham Hotspur, Norgaard made 34 Premier League outings, reports the Express.

Norgaard has consistently delivered for the Danish national team in recent campaigns. However, Brentford would likely demand a substantial fee for their captain, especially with other standout players like Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa also attracting interest from rival clubs.

However, given his advancing years, if Arsenal were to express interest and Norgaard fancied one final substantial move as his career winds down, Brentford might be open to letting him depart for a lesser fee.

Arsenal do want Partey to stay at Emirates Stadium for one more year, however, and remain locked in discussions with the midfielder's camp over a contract extension. No agreement has been made as of yet, though, with Partey's deal ending on June 30.