Arsenal and Real Madrid make Martin Odegaard summer transfer decision

Arsenal's Norwegian midfielder Martin Odegaard celebrates after scoring the equalising goal during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium in London on March 14, 2021. - - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by DAN MULLAN / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by DAN MULLAN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

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OSLO, NORWAY – SEPTEMBER 05: Erling Braut Haaland, Martin Odegaard of Norway during the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifier between Norway and Malta at Ullevaal Stadion on September 5, 2019 in Oslo, Norway. (Photo by Trond Tandberg/Getty Images) /

Erling Haaland Could Help Arsenal Sign Martin Odegaard

This is just about the only way that Erling Haaland’s name will be uttered in the same breath as Arsenal‘s; indeed, Madrid’s desire to sign the sporting equivalent of Robocop will play in Arsenal’s favour.

Los Blancos, like so many clubs, are dealing with financial difficulties. Evidenced by their lack of signings in the previous summer, balancing the books and reaching a degree of monetary equilibrium became of paramount importance.

With their hopes of signing one of either Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe, they’ll need money. Quite a lot of it.

To raise those finances, selling Odegaard constitutes a viable cash injection given his age, ability and the two years he’ll have left to run on his deal come the summer. Madrid will explore the option.

In theory it’s easy enough, but Arsenal are toying with the eventuality of playing no European football next season. None whatsoever. The cash injection from playing in the Europa League is minuscule in comparison to the Champions League, yet it’s distinctly better than, well, nothing at all. Still languishing in tenth place in the Premier League and with up to six more fixtures to play in the current Europa League if they are to win the competition, nothing is certain.

Plans for the summer are heavily dependent on how the final few months pan out, including who they can sell, who they can afford and who they can convince to join even without the allure of European competitions.

As for Odegaard, history is on Arsenal’s side if they do fail to finish the season strongly. He spent the whole of the last campaign with Real Sociedad, who played no part in Europe for the 2019/20 season. From everything he has said since joining, and clear from his on-pitch demeanour, enjoying his football at a club he states ‘feels like home’ appears to have tempted him already.

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