Arsenal plot swap deal to sign Partey from Atletico Madrid

Arsenal could include Alexandre Lacazette in a deal to sign Thomas Partey from Atletico Madrid, claims The Sun.

Partey has been heavily linked with a move to Arsenal in recent weeks after an eye-catching campaign for LaLiga outfit Atletico.

Diego Simeone's side desperately want to renew Partey's contract and increase his buy-out clause, which currently stands at just €50m (£43.6m).

Partey has been earmarked as Mikel Arteta's No.1 transfer target this summer as the Arsenal boss plots a midfield overhaul ahead of next season.

Rather than look to trigger Partey's release clause, Arsenal, who do not have a lot of money to spend, are looking at otherways of landing the box-to-box midfielder.

One way currently being explored is sending Lacazette in the opposite direction, knowing the Frenchman was once a top transfer target for Atletico.

The Spanish side were on track to sign Lacazette from Lyon in 2017 before a transfer ban derailed their pursuit and he ended up joining Arsenal later that summer.

Lacazette has struggled to nail down a regular starting berth since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's arrival in January 2018 and one is expected to depart this summer.

With only 12 months left to run on his current contract, Arsenal may be forced to sell Aubameyang this summer and that could complicate plans to include Lacazette in a deal for Partey.

Lacazette has started just 15 league games this season and been limited to a further five appearances as a substitute, only netting seven goals across those outings.

Having scored at least 20 goals in each of his last three league campaigns for Lyon, Lacazette's goal return has decreased year-on-year since joining Arsenal (14, 13, 7).