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Atlético Madrid have turned down an approach from Arsenal from midfielder Thomas Partey, which would have seen Matteo Guendouzi had the other way as part of a swap deal.
The Gunners offer €25 million (£22.8 million) plus Guendouzi, but the Spanish club are holding out for €50 million (£45 million) and want a cash-only deal, as they look to raise desperately needed funds.
Guendouzi looks to have played his last game for Arsenal, having fallen out of favour due to disciplinary issues, and the club have made it clear that they are ready to sell him this summer.
Rumours of a move for Partey have been circulating for months, but affordability may now be an issue for Arsenal, who face the prospect of a year without European football next season unless they can win the FA Cup on Saturday.
Players may need to be sold before there can be any incomings, and Guendouzi, for all his baggage, remains one of their most valuable assets.
Andy is an exiled English football fan living in Cyprus. He loves all sports but football is his abiding passion, and he still has dreams every now and then about scoring the winning goal in a Wembley Cup Final, even though his playing days are long gone. He follows most major leagues, across Europe at least, and has a favoured team in each. When he’s not watching, listening, reading or downloading podcasts about football, he spend his time worrying about his beloved Arsenal.