Arsenal are reportedly ready to step up their interest in Martin Odegaard as they prepare a €50 million offer for the Real Madrid playmaker.
According to a report from Italian journalist Rudy Galetti, Real Madrid midfielder Martin Odegaard is set to become a subject of a €50 million transfer bid from Premier League outfit Arsenal.
Odegaard spent the second half of the last season on loan at the Emirates after having struggled for regular minutes at Real Madrid under ex-manager Zinedine Zidane. Having joined Arsenal, the 22-year-old enjoyed a decent spell, bagging two goals and assists apiece in 20 outings across all competitions.
Odegaard adapted well in Mikel Arteta’s team and showed good understanding with the likes of Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe, while addressing their lack of creativity from midfield. So, it did not come as a surprise that Arsenal were keen on re-signing the Norwegian international permanently soon after his loan spell expired.
However, it looked like Odegaard would be staying put at Real Madrid, which prompted the Gunners to shift their focus towards James Maddison of Leicester City. However, recent reports claimed that the Norwegian is still not convinced about his prospects in Spain and is keen on returning to north London.
This has sparked Arsenal back into action as they reopened negotiations with Real Madrid over a move for the 22-year-old midfielder and are now ready to make an offer of €50 million for the former Stromsgodset youth prodigy.
Despite having extended the contract of Smith Rowe, Arteta & co. could do with another creative outlet in the ranks, so as to not overburden their academy graduate at a young age. Odegaard, to that end, would be a good signing for Arsenal considering that he has already done well at the club and seemed to strike up good chemistry with his teammates during his short stint at the Emirates.
With Arsenal now ready to make an offer of €50 million for the 22-year-old, the ball will be back in Real Madrid’s court. It now remains to be seen if new manager Carlo Ancelotti sees him as an indispensable asset or is ready to cash in on Odegaard in order to fund moves for his own transfer targets. An intriguing three weeks ahead for all three parties involved.