Premier League

ARSENAL are ready to make a move to sign a replacement for crocked Thomas Partey – who is sidelined until the new year.The Ghanaian moved to the Emirates in 2020 for £45million but has spent nearly a year off the pitch due to countless injuries.
Arsenal are looking to replace Thomas ParteyCredit: Getty
Douglas Luiz is Arsenal’s top midfielder transfer targetCredit: Getty
The 30-year-old Ghana international will likely be ruled out of action for the rest of the year after suffering a thigh problem in training earlier this month.
And his latest spell on the sidelines has accelerated plans to cash in on a player who has missed 57 games and been unavailable for 296 days.
Partey is one of Arsenal’s highest-paid players at £200,000-a-week and has a contract which runs to 2025.
He was one of Arteta’s first major signings but has rarely been available for consistent selection due to a long-running series of muscular injuries.
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Even if the player can achieve his target of a New Year’s comeback, he is due to head to the Ivory Coast for the Africa Cup of Nations in January.
And that has persuaded the club to make a move on recruiting a new midfielder at the Emirates in the next transfer window.
Five midfielders could feature on the Gunners transfer target list as Mikel Arteta’s side look to reinforce their midfield.
SunSport takes a look at each of them…
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Douglas Luiz – Aston Villa
Luiz is a player Arsenal have admired for some time but Villa also rate him highly.
The Gunners could be set to bid for the Brazilian when the transfer window re-opens as he is their number one target, reports Fabrizio Romano.
They were keen on Luiz in 2022 but the 25-year-old signed a new contract at Villa Park.
He is a key player for Unai Emery’s side, scoring five goals and providing one assist in 11 Premier League games this season.
Martin Zubimendi – Real Sociedad
Zubimendi caught Arsenal’s eye previously with his performances and the Gunners considered a summer move.
The club have continued to monitor the 24-year-old and could be ready to make a bid when the transfer window re-opens, claims Football.London.
The Spain international penned a new contract last year which ties him down at Sociedad until 2027.
But it is understood he has a release clause worth £52m, which Arsenal could activate.
Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi has previously caught the Gunners’ attentionCredit: Getty
Kalvin Phillips – Manchester City
The Manchester City midfielder, 27, knows he needs to be playing regularly if he is to start at Euro 2024.
And that is unlikely to happen for him at the Etihad after another frustrating season under Pep Guardiola.
City told Phillips in the summer they would be willing to let him go on loan but the £45million former Leeds star chose to stay.
And the Gunners could lure the Englishman to North London if he wants to remain in Gareth Southgate’s squad.
Manchester City’s Kalvin Phillips needs to secure more minutes if he wants to feature in Euro 2024Credit: EPA
Ruben Neves – Al-Hilal
Premier League clubs are prepared to vote on a proposal to ban loans between associated clubs with the same owners.
And should it go through, the laws would be a big blow for Newcastle who are aiming to sign Neves – as the Toon and Al-Hilal are majority-owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.
But this could be great news for Arsenal who could strike a deal with the £47million ex-Wolves midfielder.
He made 253 appearances and scored 30 goals for the West Midlands side. He also won the EFL Championship in his first season at Wolves.
New rules may mean Newcastle cannot sign Ruben Neves on loanCredit: Getty
Aurelien Tchouameni – Real Madrid
After signing £105million Declan Rice from West Ham in the summer, the Gunners turned their heads to Real Madrid star Tchouameni.
Los Blancos signed the Frenchman for £85million in 2022 from Ligue 1 giants Monaco.
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Tchouameni failed to stamp his authority on Carlo Ancelotti’s team last season – but has been a regular starter for the Spanish side this term.
But a stress fracture in his left foot has sidelined the 23-year-old until the new year – meaning a move for him in January could be very risky.
Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni is out until the new year and is unlikely to leave the BernabeuCredit: Getty More

RICHARLISON has revealed he was suffering “unbearable pain” as he posted a photo from his hospital bed after surgery.Tottenham’s 26-year-old Brazilian forward’s last appearance came on October 27 in the 2-1 win at Crystal Palace.
Richarlison is the latest star to be sidelined for Tottenham boss Ange PostecoglouCredit: PA
The Brazilian underwent surgery this week and now faces a spell outCredit: Instagram @richarlison
He has only scored two goals this season and will now be sidelined for a number of weeks after going under the knife to resolve a long-term issue with his pelvis.
Richarlison took to Instagram to share a photo of himself giving the thumbs up after his operation.
And he claimed that the issue has been causing him problems for some time, but he vowed to be “back very soon” to his best to help Spurs continue their red-hot start to the Premier League campaign.
The former Everton man, who arrived from Goodison for £60m in 2022, wrote: “Today I underwent surgery to correct a chronic problem I was having in the pubic area.
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“Since the beginning of the year I have suffered from pain that became unbearable, which undermined my performance and my joy in being on the field.
“Therefore, a few days ago I decided that it was time to take care of my health, recover and be physically capable of performing at my best again and, above all, being able to live without the pain I had been feeling.”
Richarlison added: “Now, I’m going home to rest a little and start the recovery process.
“I know it will be difficult days without being able to do what I love most in life, but it wasn’t fair to myself, my club and the team for me to continue leaving my health in the background.
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“I will be back very soon, God willing, 100% recovered and ready for the challenges that lie ahead!
“Thank you for the kind messages and also to the club doctors for the attention they gave me! TMJ!!”
Richarlison’s op also means he is out of Brazil’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers away to Colombia and at home to Argentina.
His absence comes as the latest blow to boss Ange Postecoglou ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Wolves in the Premier League.
Fellow attacker James Maddison was forced to pull out of the England squad this morning due to the injury he picked up against Chelsea.
Defender Micky van de Ven is set to avoid surgery after his hamstring injury but is unlikely to play again this year.
The 22-year-old star was another casualty of Monday’s dramatic derby against Chelsea at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Van de Ven, who joined last summer for £43million from Wolfsburg, sustained the injury in first half stoppage time and was forced off.
He, Richarlison and Maddison now join Ivan Perisic, Manor Solomon and Ryan Sessegnon on the sidelines for high-flying Spurs.
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Postecoglou’s team head to Molineux severely depleted and are also without both Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie after their sending-offs against Chelsea.
Romero will be out for the next three games while Udogie was slapped with a one-match suspension. More

DELE ALLI has taken on a new role at Everton during his injury recovery.And Toffees boss Sean Dyche has lauded the star’s surprising impact at Goodison Park.
Dele Alli has a new role at Everton as he continues his comeback from injuryCredit: Getty
Alli, 27, is yet to make an appearance this season after struggling with a groin injury.
The ex-Tottenham midfielder bravely revealed in July how he was sexually abused by a family friend when he was just six years old.
And he broke down in tears while talking to Gary Neville about an addiction to sleeping pills that resulted in a six-week rehab stint.
But as Alli continues his comeback from injury, he has been a constant presence at Everton training sessions.
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And he’s even been giving Dyche tips on how to improve.
Dyche said: “I don’t think he would mind me sharing that there probably was a period when (his career) was drifting for him.
“He had a lot going on. Once that came out, it has allowed him the chance to focus on his football and he has been very involved in terms of absorbing.
“He can’t get out on the grass with us yet but he is looking at it and he is absorbing what the input from myself and the staff has been. 
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“He is clear minded now. It was very difficult what he was going through, of course. We know that. But he is very willing to share, give an opinion.”
Alli reckons the Toffees are certainly on the right path to glory, having lost just once in their last five games in all competitions.
Indeed, he can even see similarities between Everton and Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham side.
And Dyche admits he loves being able to draw upon Alli’s experience as a World Cup semi-finalist and Champions League finalist.
Dyche added: “It’s a case of us having a coffee in the canteen. You’ll say: ‘Hey, Dele, how is it going? What are your thoughts?’ 
“He’ll point out little things. ‘I thought that, I thought this.’ It’s just a natural combination where we like players to share a view.
“It’s a nice knock-on effect that you can share something with the group. You can say: ‘I was chatting with Dele the other day and he said this really important thing’.
“We were clear minded when we were talking about direct football – not just kicking the ball forward.
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“He said it was very similar to when Pochettino first went in at Tottenham. He used to talk about it all the time. He seems to me to be very secure in himself. 
“He’s more than happy to share what he is thinking. These are amazing things he’s experienced. People, sometimes, lose sight of that.” More