Juventus need to add a well-rounded center midfielder who can defend, and there isn’t a better option for them than Thomas Partey.
Arsenal fans have been dreaming of Thomas Partey more than anyone else, but as negotiations with Atletico Madrid have been slow to develop, Juventus could potentially swoop in and make a marquee signing.
Thomas is coming off an excellent 2019-2020 La Liga campaign for Diego Simeone’s side. He scored three goals, completed 1.6 dribbles per game, won 2.0 tackles per game, and intercepted 1.4 passes per match, according to WhoScored.com.
The 27-year-old is in the prime of his career, and he could be an excellent box-to-box midfielder for Juventus. He’d add defensive steel to the midfield and ball-carrying ability, as well as a little bit of a goal-scoring threat. Juve could use all three.
Per a report from Nicola Balice, via Forza Juventus, there are “new contacts” between Juve and Atleti for Thomas. Strangely enough, Simeone is indeed interested in Federico Bernardeschi, as Atleti were linked as one of the possible landing spots for the floundering right winger. He is also interested in Douglas Costa.
Juventus can give an expendable forward for Thomas Partey
Both Costa and Bernardeschi are expendable and among the players Juventus are keen to get rid of this summer. Bernardeschi has been one of the team’s worst players, while Costa’s injuries prevent him from being a player Juve can rely on.
The club could use either player to lessen the money they’d need to spend to buy Thomas, whose valuation probably runs close to 50 million euros. So realistically, Juve could add one of those two players and 20 million euros to get Partey. Bernardeschi would be preferred, since there are likely more big clubs interested in Costa.
What should impress Andrea Pirlo the most about Partey is his ability to elevate his game in the Champions League. The Ghana international has recorded a staggering 3.6 tackles and 1.5 interceptions per game in European football’s most prestigious competition, adding 1.6 key passes per game and 1.9 dribbles completed per game.
Those are jaw-dropping numbers, as Thomas has been huge in Atletico’s charge in the Champions League knockout stages. He is the kind of player who can make a huge impact in all phases of the game, and Juventus need a player like him. Partey can play a key role centrally, enabling Rodrigo Bentancur to play wider so that he isn’t forced to be a regista. It does not seem to be a role that suits him well.
As for Partey, there may not be a better option for the Bianconeri than the 2019-2020 breakout star. Partey is wanted by Arsenal fans for a reason; he is emerging as one of the best midfielders in European football.