England have made their decision on shaking hands with Thomas Partey ahead of their World Cup clash against Ghana on Tuesday.

The Three Lions got their World Cup campaign underway in some style on Wednesday as they beat Croatia. Harry Kane (2), Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford were all on the scoresheet as England won 4-2.

Ghana were also triumphant in their first match as they beat Panama 1-0. Caleb Yirenkyi scored what could be a crucial winner in the 95th minute.

The Black Stars were able to emerge victorious despite being without star player and vice-captain Partey. The 33-year-old was denied entry into Canada as he faces trial over rape and sexual assault. It was later revealed that he had not declared any outstanding charges when applying for a visa.

England Make Decision About Thomas Partey

Kai Pfaffenbach via Reuters

Despite not being allowed entry into Canada, Partey has been granted his visa by the United States. That means he will be available to face England in Ghana’s second group match at Boston Stadium on Tuesday.

Ahead of the tournament, it was revealed that England may decide not to shake hands with Partey, who now plays for Spanish side Villarreal, before their game.

Pre-match handshakes between opposing players are customary before top-level matches, including World Cup fixtures.

However, it was reported that the FA were considering England’s position on whether they agree to shake Partey’s hand or not.

According to the Telegraph, the FA has ‘has no fixed position on Partey or his involvement against England’ and are ‘not expected to issue players with any guidance over shaking hands.’

It is therefore expected that England players will shake Partey’s hand ahead of the match. Several of Partey’s former Arsenal teammates play for the Three Lions, including Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka.

Ghana Defended Decision to Call Up Partey

REUTERS/David Klein

Ghana were criticised for their decision to call up Partey to their 26-man squad for the World Cup. Former Manchester United assistant Carlos Queiroz, who now manages Ghana, defended his inclusion.

He said: “It’s a simple and basic answer. As far as I know, in England, in Portugal, whatever, until the court makes a decision, that the presumption of innocence is on the side of all court cases.

“But today, and this is not only about Thomas, very unfortunately the way the social media and the media sometimes act with full and total impunity, we are condemned even before we have the opportunity to defend. So let the events run this normal course. Let the river flow and one day when the river meets the ocean, we’re going to find the truth.”

After facing England, Ghana conclude their group stage campaign against Croatia on June 27. England face Panama on the same day.

Arsenal are back in the market for a striker, according to reports, just one year on from landing Viktor Gyokeres as their number one target for the position.

It comes as the Gunners look to strengthen after sealing the Premier League title last season, finally putting an end to 22 years of waiting for the division’s biggest prize.

Many thought that, after close calls in recent campaigns, that landing a striker would be the final piece of the puzzle. To some degree, it was, as Gyokeres came up with plenty of big moments for Arsenal in his debut campaign.

However, there was also a lot left to be desired, especially if the North London club wants to assert their dominance at the very top of the league and Europe for years to come.

As a result, forwards are on the shortlist, and one of them is a Premier League striker on the club’s radar.

Arsenal Want Igor Thiago

According to a report from RTI Esporte, Arsenal are showing interest in Brentford striker Igor Thiago as a potential option for the summer transfer window.

The report claims that the 24-year-old is viewed as one of the main targets for Mikel Arteta in the forward line, having shown he is capable of leading the line in the Premier League.

The Gunners aren’t alone in their appreciation of Thiago, however, as Manchester United are also claimed to be in the race for his signature.

Brentford’s valuation of the Brazilian international is currently unknown, with the club likely to hold out for a large fee to even think about a possible exit, while the competition between two rivals for the star will only increase the potential cost.

Thiago’s attributes are exactly what Arsenal want, however, with his clinical finishing, pressing off the ball, and an ability to be a focal point all playing a part in the head coach’s interest.

Thiago’s Record-Breaking Season

After a devastating injury wiped out his first season in the Premier League, Thiago has responded in fine fashion with plenty of goals to show for his efforts at Brenford.

The striker was a sensation in the division last season, breaking the record for the most goals scored by a Brazilian in a second season in the league.

Thiago managed to hit that goal with 17 matches to spare, while he ended up on a final tally of 22 in the division, as Erling Haaland only scored more.

His quality in terms of output cannot be questioned, though it wouldn’t be the first time that a player has looked good for a smaller club in the Premier League before struggling elsewhere.

As a result, a large fee could produce a risk, given the types of chances that are presented to Thiago at Brentford, compared to what he may expect at Arsenal.

It remains to be seen whether a deal could be done, but he may prove to be an interesting addition to the frontline at the Emirates Stadium next season.

Manchester United are continuing to monitor potential signings in the transfer market, taking to the World Cup stage to monitor a few of their targets.

There are plenty of players on the radar for the Red Devils, particularly in the midfield, where there is the most change expected within the squad.

The signing of Ederson is all but complete at this stage, while there is interest in the likes of Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali as potential other signings in the central ranks.

Then there’s the possible move for Felix Nmecha, as interest from Man United in the Germany international is seemingly stepping up this summer.

Man United Scouts Watch Felix Nmecha

Nmecha has emerged as a potential option for Man United this summer, following another season of impressive displays for Borussia Dortmund.

The former Manchester City man could add some quality to the central ranks as well as some potential to grow even further in the future at the age of just 25.

As interest in him grows, Football Insider reports that Man United scouts were recently in attendance to watch Nmecha play for Germany in their World Cup rout over Curacao.

The £105m-rated star picked up a goal and an assist in the 7-1 victory, while he also started for his national team in the clash with the Ivory Coast in their second group stage match.

The report claims that the United scouts were left “blown away” by his performance in the former, which could well lead to a transfer switch this summer.

It remains to be seen if that is a distinct possibility, with Borussia Dortmund likely to value him at a large transfer fee if he is to leave in the coming weeks.

Man United’s Costly Midfield Rebuild

A move for Nmecha is unlikely to come cheap, because of Borussia Dortmund’s stance against a possible sale in the coming months of the transfer window.

Between him and the other options on the cards, any deal for Man United is likely to be expensive, during a summer where midfielders are a priority for many teams.

The likes of Fernandes and Tonali are ranging from £80 million to £100 million in the market, an expensive deal that is likely to be a marquee signing.

Given how important it is, United clearly need to get deals over the line in midfield, but it looks set to take up almost all of the summer transfer budget.