Arsenal ‘in talks to re-sign Real Madrid star Martin Odegaard’ after a positive loan stint last season as Leicester refuse to budge on their demands for £60m rated James Maddison
Arsenal are reportedly in talks to re-sign Real Madrid star Martin Odegaard on a permanent transfer.
Mikel Arteta is keen to bring in an attacking midfielder this summer and the Norwegian impressed during a loan stint at the club last season.
The Gunners have also been keeping tabs on Leicester’s James Maddison, though the Foxes are not interested in selling their player and would demand a large fee in the region of £60m.
Arsenal are keen on re-signing Martin Odegaard after a positive loan stint last season
Mikel Arteta is determined to bring in an attacking midfielder to the Gunners this summer
Sky Sports have now reported that Odegaard won’t be involved in Real Madrid’s opening game of the LaLiga season against Real Sociedad at the weekend as he pursues a return to London.
It’s said the Norwegian international, whose control at the Santiago Bernabeu runs up in 2023, would cost in the region of £35-40m.
The 22-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan at Arsenal, making 20 appearances across all competitions and scoring two goals.
Arsenal’s pursuit of Odegaard could be about to step up after it was previously reported that they are not ‘seriously pursuing’ Maddison.
Unlike Maddison at Leicester, there are doubts over the Norwegian’s chances of regular first-team football at Real Madrid under Carlo Ancelotti, which might open the door for the Gunners.
Arsenal have also been linked with Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham and a new goalkeeper with Aaron Ramsdale and Sam Johnstone both potential candidates, though a move for the Sheffield United shot-stopper could also be put off by the Blades’ £30m asking price.
Arsenal were linked with James Maddison though could be priced out by his club Leicester
Speaking ahead of Friday’s Premier League season opener against Brentford, Arteta said: ‘Anything is possible and there are still a lot of things to be done and a lot of clubs involved.
‘You can see that the ball starts to roll at a different speed in the last week or so. It’s been a really difficult transfer window and probably a lot of things will happen in the last week or so.
‘It’s how deals develop and sometimes something that is not possible to do on the 12th of August is possible to do on the last day. Whether you are happy bringing the player in or not I think is more important.’
