1 month ago
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Arsenal are in advanced talks with Brentford over a move for Brentford midfielder Christian Norgaard amid uncertainty over Thomas Partey's future.
Sources have indicated the Emirates Stadium club are exploring a deal worth in the region of an initial £10m, with a possible £5m in performance related add-ons.
BBC Sport understands Sevilla's 23-year-old French midfielder Lucien Agoume also features prominently on Arsenal's list of possible targets to replace Partey.
Crucially, however, it is understood Mikel Arteta has identified Norgaard as the midfielder he wants because he prefers a Premier League-ready player.
Club-to-club discussions over the Denmark international have accelerated in the last 24 hours, while it is understood the 31-year-old is keen to join Arteta's side.
Partey, 32, has been in talks over a new deal with the Gunners, but has so far failed to reach an extension agreement.
He will leave when his contract expires next week if new terms cannot be finalised.
Norgaard, who joined Brentford in 2019 from Fiorentina and is contracted until 2027, became a key player for the Bees under Thomas Frank, who left to become manager of Tottenham earlier in June.
Arsenal are also set to complete the signing of Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga this week by paying his £5m release clause and are close to finalising the £51m signing of Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi.
Matthew Hobbs, BBC Sport
Norgaard was linked with a reunion with former manager Thomas Frank at Tottenham earlier this summer and his record shows why he is highly regarded by the top teams.
The 31-year-old has just completed his sixth successive season at the Gtech Community Stadium, including all four of the Bees' Premier League campaigns.
Since his top-flight debut in 2021, Norgaard has made 201 interceptions – the most of any Premier League player during this period – while he also ranks second overall for recoveries (844) and third for tackles won (189).
Not necessarily renowned for goalscoring, six goals in all competitions in 2024-25 was also the best return of his entire 14-year professional career.
Norgaard could effectively replace Thomas Partey in Arsenal's midfield. Contract talks with the Ghana international, who joined Arsenal for £45m from Atletico Madrid in 2020, have reached an impasse, with Partey's current deal due to expire in July.
While Norgaard offers his own well of experience, it would not be a like-for-like replacement as Partey offers more dynamism carrying the ball in central areas, whereas the Dane is more of a traditional six, screening for danger in front of Brentford's defence. As a result, Partey's average carrying stats comfortably surpass those of Norgaard, who is more prolific at breaking up opposition attacks.
Ian Westbrook, Brentford fan writer
Norgaard has played a vital role in almost six years at the club, making nearly 200 appearances in all competitions and being named captain in the summer of 2023.
His importance to the side can be shown by the fact we failed to win any of the four Premier League games he missed last season, and had two victories in the seven in which he was absent during the last campaign.
He is the glue that holds the side together in his defensive midfield role, protecting the defence, winning tackles and setting up attacks. This season he has also become a more regular goalscorer - with his six in all competitions (five in the Premier League) nearly half of his entire total of 13 for the club. We are a much weaker team without him.
