Arsenal on the brink of £30m agreement with Real Madrid for Martin Odegaard with Mikel Arteta set to secure playmaker ahead of London derby clash with Chelsea
- Arsenal and Real Madrid are poised to agree a deal for Martin Odeegard
- Norwegian spent last season on loan at the Emirates from the Spanish capital
- Mikel Arteta moved to secure a deal after giving up on James Maddison
- Sportsmail understands the move will go through for a fee in the region of £30m
Arsenal and Real Madrid are on the brink of reaching an agreement for the transfer of Norwegian playmaker Martin Odegaard.
The Gunners had opened a dialogue with the Spanish giants earlier in the summer over a permanent deal, after Odegaard impressed on loan during the later part of last season.
Boss Mikel Arteta has remained determined to bring in a playmaker and now Sportsmail understands hands are about to be shaken on a deal worth in the region of £30million (€35m).
Martin Odegaard is set to return to Arsenal from Real Madrid, this time on a permanent deal
The deal is believed to be in the latter stages, with Odegaard primed to link up once again with the senior Arsenal squad in the coming days.
On Wednesday Odegaard was absent from Real Madrid’s training session, while the fine print of the deal was being discussed.
Odegaard could feature for Arsenal’s game against London rivals Chelsea on Sunday, though question marks remain over whether the formalities will be completed in time.
Odegaard was absent from Real Madrid training on Wednesday while the deal was arranged
Mikel Arteta has now finally secured the playmaker he has wanted for the season ahead
Arsenal’s move to bring back Odegaard signals an end in their interest in Leicester City star James Maddison.
The Gunners have been linked with the England international for several weeks, though have been unable to bring the Foxes down from their £60m asking price.
Arsenal also continue to be linked to Lyon talisman Houssem Aouar, who looks set to finally move on from the French giants this summer in order to ease the burden on mounting finances.
