Thomas Partey 'facing Arsenal exit' with no extension on table as club chase Declan Rice

 Thomas Partey is reportedly facing a ‘concrete chance’ of leaving Arsenal this summer amid no talks of a contract extension and England superstar remaining a priority

Thomas Partey reportedly has a ‘concrete chance’ of leaving Arsenal this summer, as Declan Rice remains a priority signing.

Partey, 30, has been linked with a move away from the Emirates as the Gunners continue their pursuit of West Ham United’s captain Rice.

The Ghanian has been at Arsenal for three years since joining from Atletico Madrid but despite remaining a key player throughout his time in North London, the exit door seems to be open for him.

That’s according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, who claims that there’s a ‘concrete chance’ for Partey to leave Arsenal this summer amid interest and discussions already beginning regarding his exit.

It’s said that Partey’s contract expires in June 2025 and there are no talks to extend his current deal as Mikel Arteta sees Rice as a priority arrival in the engine room.

Romano has also claimed that the Gunners have interest and have already begun talks with Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia - whose representatives hold an ‘excellent’ relationship with Arsenal.

But they will face competition for his signature with Chelsea and Manchester United interested, although nothing is advanced. Manchester City hold a buy-back clause on the player which is valid until 2024 after he left the Etihad last summer.

City’s clause stands at £40million after Pep Guardiola allowed him to leave to play first-team football but was obviously reluctant to cut ties with the talented Belgian entirely.

Arteta is evidently keen on recruiting a new centre-midfielder with Granit Xhaka and Jorginho both rumoured to be heading out the exit door in what could be an overhaul in the engine room – whether or not Partey also leaves the club.

Arsenal previously launched an opening bid for Rice that was rejected by the Hammers but haven’t been put off with them expected to line up a second bid possibly in excess of £100million.