The decision was made for Partey to stay despite the £105million arrival of Declan Rice. Partey then started the first three games of the Premier League season, however, was injured in training ahead of the visit of Manchester United. The Ghana FA confirmed the issue but Mikel Arteta contradicted their prediction that the 30-year-old would be out for just a “couple of weeks”.
“I don’t know, unfortunately, he got an injury in training and it doesn’t look good, we need some more tests, we believe he’s going to be out for weeks,” he said. “We think it’s a groin but can be something in between.”
With Partey out for potentially the next six weeks or more, there are serious questions being raised about his future. The famous statistic that he has featured in the region of only 64% of games since his arrival in 2020 is a critical factor in this thinking.
The arrival of Rice has shown a future beyond the player and the depth that exists in Jorginho and Mohamed Elneny, who is expected to return soon from his own injury, will be tasked with standing into the gap left by the former Atletico Madrid man’s latest absence. But in 2024, potentially as early as the January transfer window, it will be time to think about the next step.
There is a feeling that the summer of next year will be focused on the major recruitment of a new forward to reinforce the options in attack and bring further competition to the likes of Bukayo Saka, Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel Jesus. Yet, with the departure of such a player like Partey that could shift, or, hopefully, be addressed alongside another midfield star.
Who that player might be is a very tricky question to answer. The young stars of the role from 2023 all moved, including Rice.
Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia moved to Chelsea, Alexis Mac Allister moved to Liverpool, Matheus Nunes made the switch to Manchester City, Real Madrid secured Jude Bellingham and Man United added Sofyan Amrabat on loan. Okay, the last one might not be in the same category but midfielders have been moving on the big stage.One deal that fell through on deadline day was Joao Palhinha’s switch to Bayern Munich. Although older, now 28, the player has two years on Partey and has been a star of the Premier League.
Perhaps, adding the Portuguese international could be a plan. Alternatively, Martin Zubimendi at Real Sociedad is perhaps a name that could be revisited after links in the January window of 2023.
Whatever the target, serious consideration must begin to be made. Partey cannot be relied upon regarding his fitness and the club needs to address it.
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