Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Besiktas have held a ‘positive’ meeting over a summer deal with Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey, according to reports in Turkey.
Solskjaer, who played for and managed Manchester United, is planning to sign a new midfielder in his first transfer window in charge of Turkish Super Lig club Besiktas.
Besiktas were in crisis before Solskjaer’s arrival in January but the Old Trafford legend has stabilised the club on and off the pitch.
They have climbed to fourth in the Super Lig ahead of their final two games of the season and already qualified for next season’s Europa League.
Besiktas have been one of the best teams in Turkey since Solskjaer’s appointment and the former Premier League star is keen for his team to kick on next season with the help of some summer additions.
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At least one new midfielder will be added to Solskjaer’s squad and the ex-Norway international has identified Partey as a top target.
Partey has enjoyed arguably his best season at Arsenal and his form has attracted interest from the likes of Atletico Madrid and Juventus, as well as clubs in Saudi Arabia.
The 31-year-old’s current deal is due to expire at the end of next month and he is yet to agree fresh terms.
Partey is believed to be keen on extending his stay at the Emirates Stadium but will of course leave if a deal cannot be struck.
Turkish outlet Fanatik say Besiktas have already made contact with Partey’s agent and held a ‘positive’ meeting about bringing him to the club.
Arsenal will make one last attempt to keep Partey in north London following the end of the Premier League season, with Mikel Arteta recently confirming he wanted the Ghana international to stay.
‘In regards to Thomas, consistency-wise, it’s been his best season,’ Arteta said before Arsenal’s final game of the season against Southampton.
‘I think the way he’s played, performed, his availability has been exceptional and he’s a really important player for us.’
Asked if he wanted Partey to remain at the Gunners, Arteta simply replied: ‘Yes’.
Partey is not the only Arsenal player coming towards the end of his contract, with fellow midfielder Jorginho and full-back Kieran Tierney in the same boat.
Jorginho is expected to join Brazilian club Flamengo on a free transfer while Tierney, whose Arsenal career has been plagued by injury problems, is poised to return to Celtic.
‘Well, there’s some question marks on a few of them, so we’ll have to wait and see,’ Arteta said.
‘We still have another Premier League match to play on Sunday and after that we have some time to sit down and finalise a few things that have to be done.’
Arsenal appointed Andrea Berta as their new sporting director earlier in the year and the former Atletico Madrid chief will oversee transfer dealings this summer.
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