Arsenal technical director Edu is said to have given the green light for the club to pursue the signing of Atletico Madrid star Thomas Partey.
Mikel Arteta is a long-term admirer of the Ghanaian holding midfielder and wants to bring him to the Emirates.
Arteta views his arrival as key to the project he is embarking on as the club looks to rediscover their glory days.
According to the Daily Mail, Arsenal’s head of international recruitment Francis Cagigao was the man who initially identified Partey as a key signing, and the move has now been approved by Edu.
However, financing the deal may prove difficult. Atletico are not ready to sell which means the only way Arsenal can get Partey is to pay his £43million release clause.
Arsenal can only meet the price should they sell some key players.
Partey has been a key player for Diego Simeone since breaking into the first team in 2015. This season he has 42 appearances in all competitions and has mostly excelled in midfield.