Arsenal identify Juventus’ Paulo Dybala as Martin Odegaard alternative

Arsenal want to bring Martin Odegaard back to the club next season. Every human on planet earth with a shred of red and white about them wants to see the Norwegian back in some capacity. All eventualities must be prepared for, however, and one is signing Paulo Dybala instead.

It’s hard not to be smitten by Martin Odegaard, to grow attached to his every move. Cute on the ball. Flirtatious weight of pass. Elegant flicks. Darling control. Sexy runs into space. He has it all.

But as the days pass by with him continuing to perform to such a high standard, so too do the chances of Arsenal signing him permanently.

At this stage the best hopes they can have are another loan deal. It’s a ballpark they’ve been in with Real Madrid before on the Dani Ceballos deal, yet this situation is different to the Spaniard who has a contract at Santiago Bernabeu until 2023 and is in his second season while Odegaard’s runs out at the same time.

Arsenal identify Juventus’ Paulo Dybala as Martin Odegaard alternative with Juventus wanting to sell in summer transfer window

If a loan move is unattainable, then it looks set to be £51m that the Gunners will have to cough up for his services. That number has risen exponentially since he first stepped foot through the Emirates doors.

It would be foolish of Arsenal not to throw everything they have at the Norwegian, who has transformed the outlook of the team alongside Emile Smith Rowe, with the two creative stars playing their part in some of the finest attacking football seen under Mikel Arteta.

Contingency plans must be laid out. As all clubs do.

Arteta will not want to consider next season without the 22-year-old, but it seems he has still planned for it.

Sport beat around the bush when it comes to Odegaard, stating that it’s ‘not clear’ whether his future lies in north London despite all at the club ‘drooling’ over his impact.

The man they’ve earmarked to come in should the Scandinavian not be acquired for next season is Juventus’ Paulo Dybala, whose situation in Turin hints strongly towards a summer departure.

Would he be obtainable?