Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard transfer hopes altered by Zidane

Arsenal have been embroiled in an already tiring transfer saga surrounding the future of Martin Odegaard, who goes from being cemented into the Real Madrid halls to remaining in his temporary London digs.

It doesn’t take long for supporters to change their mind on a player, nor does the media need any excuse to cough up a different narrative or angle on a transfer story to keep the interest ticking over.

From the moment Martin Odegaard walked through the Emirates Stadium doors his future has been a constant talking point, even before he’d played a full 90 minutes. His capture on loan in January was a coup in itself, and the return Arsenal have got from the Norwegian has been chalk and cheese compares to previous loan signings from La Liga.

Breaking it down, the consensus is that both Arsenal of Odegaard want to extend their relationship. Mikel Arteta has waxed lyrical over him, while the 22-year-old has informed those around him of his desire to stay another season at least, regularly speaking about how ‘at home’ he is in north London.

Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard transfer hopes altered by Zinedine Zidane leaving his job as Real Madrid manager

There is also an understanding that Real Madrid are Real Madrid. Odegaard hasn’t had his chance to feature regularly in the Spanish capital with multiple loan spells away, but if he is given his crack of the whip nobody could begrudge him grabbing it with two hands.

That is yet to come, a decision that rested on Zinedine Zidane’s shoulders. He hasn’t favoured the midfielder to date, instead relying on the likes of Luka Modric or Fede Valverde, among others. A lot of the speculation surrounding Odegaard’s desire was an unwillingness to play under a manager who hasn’t given him the time of day.

What about now, then?

As per numerous sources, including Marca, Zidane informed his players of his decision to leave the club at the end of the season, drawing the curtain on a second spell at the helm.

Previously mooted that Odegaard sees no future for himself at the club while the Frenchman is manager, these developments could turn the tide one way or the other. It’s early days but the two candidates mentioned are Raul and Massimiliano Allegri.

Will they fancy Odegaard?

What Will Happen With Martin Odegaard?

Whoever takes over in the dugout will have their own ideas, those that no other player or onlooker can know. Not in terms of personnel, anyway.

Odegaard’ recent dip in form – which hasn’t been as bad as widely suggested while his impressive spell could well have been overhyped – won’t have impacted his transfer fee, which is said to remain around the £35m-£40m. That’s big money. Especially for Arsenal.

The incoming Madrid manager won’t need refreshing of the torrid financial situation the club finds itself in, sitting in a cool €900m worth of debt, so player sales will be essential to their plans not least if they want to somehow wrangle their way to the signing of either Erling Haaland or Kylian Mbappe.

Equally, plenty of the Madrid engine room is not getting any younger and with reports out of Spain – that generally need taking with salt – stating that Odegaard is an essential piece of the club’s future planning, they could do far worse than an on-song version of him.

Selling still remains a possibility, but not for Arsenal with the prices previously mentioned.

Odegaard has adapted to the Premier League exceptionally quickly. Getting up to speed with the division, the physicality and his teammates, that impressive integration has arguably also proven his downfall with the criticism he’s received of late being that he hasn’t maintained that standard.

Injuries haven’t helped and with a pre-season behind him and less of the dire mood around Arsenal next season, he has the scope to be an important tool in the push for a top four place.

Not for £40m, though. Even £35m. That’d be parting with an considerable chunk of the meagre budget and even if there is genuine talent there and the signs of a player well suited to Mikel Arteta’s vision, it’s too much to part with.

The new Madrid manager may block such a move entirely upon his arrival or open the door for a permanent exit, so it may be irrelevant regardless. Yet even if all the variables fall Arsenal’s way, with the three parties keen on a reunion, this sum of money is too steep with the multitude of areas in need of seeing to.

It’d have to be negotiated far, far lower.