Arsenal recruit Kanu to help convince Atletico Madrid's Ghanaian midfielder to move to the Emirates

ARSENAL have turned to former Super Eagles skipper Nwankwo Kanu in a desperate bid to sign Ghanaian midfielder Thomas Party from Atletico Madrid asking their former striker to use his influence to the player to come to the Emirates.

Partey, 27, is a holding midfielder who Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is desperate to add to his team ahead of the commencement of the 2020/21 season. However, Arsenal are facing stiff competition from the midfielder as the likes of Inter Milan are also interested in Partey, who has a 50m release clause in his contract.

To make matters worse for Arsenal, Ghana's national team manager, Charles Akonnor is not in favour of the player moving to the Emirates because Arsenal cannot offer him Uefa Champions League football. In a desperate bid to get around the problem, Arsenal have asked Kanu to intervene because Partey regards him as his idol and could be moved by the former Super Eagles skipper.

Arsenal are reportedly prepared to pay £44.5million to trigger Partey’s release clause but must first raise the funds to do so. In a bid to fund the move, Arsenal are prepared to about seven offload players including the likes of Matteo Guendouzi and Hector Bellerin, who is reportedly to be sold to Paris Saint-Germain for £30m.

Kanu has already held talks with Partey, who said he idolised him when he was an Arsenal player and  Arteta is hoping that this will seal the deal. Last season, Arsenal manager Unai Emery was keen to sign Partey and the player was desperate to join the Gunners but the club was unwilling to match Atletico's asking price.