ARSENAL ISSUE THOMAS PARTEY TRANSFER STATEMENT AFTER BARCELONA CONTRACT TALKS

Thomas Partey's contract with Arsenal expires this month and the midfielder has been linked with a free transfer to Barcelona, despite Mikel Arteta wanting him to stay

Arsenal have confirmed that they remain in talks with Thomas Partey over his future at the club. Partey, 31, sees his current deal expire on June 30 but boss Mikel Arteta wants to keep him.

The midfielder is claimed to have held talks with La Liga giants Barcelona over a potential free transfer. Partey spent his formative years in Spain and joined Arsenal from Atletico Madrid for £45million in 2020.

This season, the Ghanian played more games than ever for Arsenal. Partey made a total of 52 appearances, topping his previous best tally of 40.

But his future remains uncertain, with Arsenal issuing an update when announcing their retained and released list on Wednesday. Partey is one of two men's team players whose current terms run out at the end of this month.

A passage read: "The following players' contracts also expire on June 30, 2025. Discussions are ongoing, and once matters are finalised between all parties, we will communicate in due course: Chloe Kelly, Thomas Partey and Michal Rosiak."

Arteta has gone on record to state that he hopes Partey will sign a new deal. "I think consistency-wise it's been his best season," the Arsenal manager said last month. "The way he's played, performed, his availability, has been exceptional and he's a really important player for us."

In April, Arteta was asked if there'd been any progress in contract talks with the 31-year-old. "Yes, there is progress with all the players," he replied. "I'll leave that to [sporting director] Andrea [Berta] and the club to decide and to talk about."

Pushed on whether it's his intention to have Partey in his squad next season, Arteta continued: "The intention is very clear. I'll leave that to Andrea and the club to take a step forward."

Mikel Arteta wants to keep Thomas Partey at Arsenal(Image: Eric Verhoeven/Soccrates/Getty Images)

Aside from the Ghana international, Arsenal have confirmed the departure of first-team stars Kieran Tierney and Jorginho. Tierney, 27, is set to rejoin former club Celtic while 33-year-old Jorginho has been linked with a move to Flamengo.

Loanee Raheem Sterling is confirmed to be returning to Chelsea. Neto will also return to Bounemouth after making just a single appearance.

Arsenal's full retained and released list: Nathan Butler-Oyedeji, Reece Clairmont, Khayon Edwards, Jakai Fisher, Romari Forde, Teyah Goldie, Jimi Gower, Jack Henry-Francis, Lina Hurtig, Amanda Ilestedt, Jorginho, Max Kuczynski, Salah-Eddine Oulad M'Hand, Ismail Oulad M'Hand, Neto. Brian Okonkwo. Elian Quesada-Thorn, Zacariah Shuaib, Raheem Sterling, Kieran Tierney.

- Nathan Ridley

ARSENAL LEAVES 11 PLAYERS AT HOME FOR LIVERPOOL MATCH ON US TOUR AMID TRANSFERS

Arsenal have announced a 26-man squad for their pre-season tour of the United States with 11 players not making the trip.

Mikel Arteta's side will be without several key players who are likely to feature in his starting XI for the Premier League season due to their involvement in Euro 2024 and the Copa America. As such, the Gunners will be without a group of players while Stateside.

Declan Rice, Aaron Ramsdale, Bukayo Saka, David Raya and William Saliba will not travel after featuring at the Euros. The north London outfit still have friendlies against Bayer Leverkusen and Lyon scheduled between their return from the USA and the start of the Premier League season.

From July 25, Gabriel Magalhaes, Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz will link up with the squad. They will arrive in the States after Arsenal's match against Bournemouth but before games against Manchester United and Liverpool.

Kieran Tierney, who injured his hamstring representing Scotland at the Euros, and Takehiro Tomiyasu, who has a knee injury, will not make the trip. Both will receive treatment in London from the club's medical staff at Sobha Realty Training Centre.

New signing Tommy Setford is included in the travelling party as Arteta takes a squad of mixed experience. Martin Odegaard, Ben White and Jurrien Timber have travelled, while Leandro Trossard, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Jukub Kiwior are also with the team following their involvement at the Euros.

Emile Smith Rowe is also part of the travelling squad, despite transfer interest from Fulham and Crystal Palace. However, Charlie Patino didn't make the cut.

The midfielder is set to leave this summer after a loan spell at Swansea City last year. The 20 year old featured in an Arsenal XI victory over Leyton Orient on Saturday, with the team predominantly heading to the US including Gabriel Jesus.

Goalkeepers: Karl Hein, Tommy Setford, Lucas Nygaard, Alexei Rojas.

Defenders: Ben White, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Jurrien Timber, Josh Nichols, Jakub Kiwior, Ayden Heaven, Omar Rekik. 

Midfielders: Thomas Partey, Jorginho, Michal Rosiak, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Martin Odegaard, Emile Smith Rowe, Fabio Vieira, Ethan Nwaneri, SalahEddine Oulad M'Hand, Jimi Gower.

Forwards: Leandro Trossard, Reiss Nelson, Charles Sagoe Jr, Gabriel Jesus, Eddie Nketiah.

Liverpool.com says: Like Liverpool, Arsenal will be missing a host of first-team players for the tour of the States. The two line-ups that face off in Philadelphia will be a long way off the teams that take to the field for the start of the Premier League campaign. It will still be a good watch for our fans in the States though.