Arsenal have reportedly agreed the deal to sign Martin Odegaard on loan from Real Madrid for the remainder of the 2020/21 season.
According to a report by Sky Sports, Arsenal have moved one step closer to securing the services of Martin Odegaard on a six-month loan deal. The likes of Leicester City, Real Sociedad and others were also keen on signing the Norwegian international, who is now set for his medical with the Gunners.
Odegaard was once seen as a prodigious young attacking midfielder, having joined Real Madrid from Stromsgodset shortly after his 16th birthday. Half-a-decade later, the player continues to be rated highly but has struggled to establish a foothold in the Real Madrid first-team setup.
Having impressed on loan at Real Sociedad last season, Los Blancos cut short his two-year deal at their fellow La Liga side. Odegaard, though, has not been able to nail down a spot as a regular in Zinedine Zidane’s side, managing just nine appearances all season. Things have reached a head for the 22-year-old, whose situation alerted Arsenal last week.
Since then, the Premier League heavyweights have made quick progress, capitalising on Odegaard’s desire to leave Real Madrid on loan in search of regular game-time. Arsenal first made an approach over a temporary transfer last week and have now gone on to agree the deal to sign the youngster, beating the likes of Real Sociedad, Leicester City and Ajax to his signature.
The report suggests that Odegaard will undergo a medical within the next 48 hours before completing the temporary switch to the Emirates. A report from The Times offers further clarity on the transfer, with Arsenal agreeing to pay a £1.8 million loan fee for the Real Madrid midfielder plus his wages of £38,000 a week, bringing the total outlay to around £2.5 million.
Ødegaard > Arsenal details #AFC ???
– Simple loan until June 2021 confirmed. No buy option, Real and Arsenall will discuss at the end of the season.
– Medicals already scheduled, Real Sociedad & Ajax turned down by Martin.
– Salary paid by #AFC, £2.5m loan fee as per Times. https://t.co/wSbYb0bmzk— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 24, 2021
The desire to make a move for Odegaard makes a great deal of sense for Arsenal, with Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka the only players offering some respite in a side that has been devoid of creativity this season. The absence of Mesut Ozil, who has gone on to join Fenerbahce, has been telling, and it has been clear for a long time that Arsenal needed to sign a creative midfielder.
To that end, the Gunners have been linked with a number of players to solve the big issue in their squad, and have now finally succeeded in finding the requisite solution in Odegaard. Arsenal do not have the option to sign the Norwegian permanently and will discuss the same at the end of the season, but for now, they are on the verge of signing the creative midfielder from Real Madrid.
