Revealed: Arsenal's surprise 'replacement for Thomas Partey' if contract talks continue to stall - and he has been hailed as the next N'Golo Kante!
Arsenal are reportedly considering a move for Sevilla midfielder Lucien Agoume as a replacement for Thomas Partey.
The Gunners are discussing the 23-year-old among a number of options, according to The Athletic.
Partey is on course to leave the Emirates after failing to agree a new deal, with his contract expiring at the end of the month.
As such, Mikel Arteta will need to bolster his midfield and Agoume - who some online have dubbed 'the next N'Golo Kante' for his ball-winning ability - has emerged as an option.
Real Sociedad's Martin Zubimendi appears close to joining for £51m but the Gunners are casting their net wider.
Agoume was an important player for Sevilla last season as the Andalusian battled successfully to keep their place in LaLiga, finishing 17th.
Having come through Sochaux's academy, which has produced stars such as Ibrahima Konate, Marcus Thuram, and Maxence Lacroix, Agoume signed for Inter Milan in 2019.
He struggled for first-team football at the San Siro and went out on a series of loans with various clubs before landing at Sevilla permanently this summer.
He also spent the 2023-24 season on loan in Seville, learning his defensive craft off the likes of Sergio Ramos.
Agoume, who was born in Cameroon, has also played 10 times for france Under-21s but is yet to earn his first senior cap.
Arteta did not want Partey to leave but it seem she is headed for the exit, with ESPN reporting that a renewal agreement is not expected after talks reached a standstill.
Partey joined Arsenal for £45million from Atletico Madrid on deadline day in October 2020.
The Ghana international has gone on to play 167 times for the Gunners and has scored nine goals.
Partey was ruled out injured for large chunks of the 2023-24 season but returned as an important figure for Mikel Arteta last campaign as they reached the Champions League semi-finals.
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His stint in north London has brought no major trophies, although he did play in their 2023 Community Shield penalties victory over Manchester City.
Partey says his family will be a decisive factor in deciding his future.
'I think the first thing is where are you happy and where do you feel at home. At the end of the day you've been in football, you've been in different teams.
'Then it's about what is your next objective what do you want to achieve next. You still have to look at all this and at the end of the day we all have a family that needs money, this is our mind.
'We are not getting younger. There are a lot of things where you have to look now with a family, where you want them to be happy. When you are young you just play anywhere.
'I'm an Arsenal fan, I can't decide anything and just have to leave it to my agent and the club. Me, I just want to enjoy football.'
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