Arsenal earn potential Martin Odegaard transfer boost at Real Madrid

For the final game of the 2020/21 Premier League season, 10,000 Arsenal fans were able to witness Martin Odegaard in the flesh as Mikel Arteta’s side put Brighton to the sword with a comfortable 2-0 win. Will that be the last supporters see of him in red and white? Maybe not.

This debate will rumble on well into the summer. It’s already been gathering momentum from the early stages of the Norwegian’s stint after joining from Real Madrid in January.

Signing someone on loan is always dangerous territory. Securing the 22-year-old’s signature in the winter was a move made six months too late as another playmaker needed bringing in before the season even began, but once secured it was a real coup on Arsenal’s part.

However, there are concerns over how long said player will need to integrate, what impact it will have on the squad and, in Odegaard’s case, the fear of growing too attached to something only temporary. The midfielder’s form dipped at stages as injury took its toll, but he was no Denis Suarez or Dani Ceballos. He brought something different and adapted effortlessly.

Arsenal earn potential Martin Odegaard transfer boost at Real Madrid after Luka Modric extends stay with La Liga side for one more season

Arteta has not hidden his admiration for Odegaard throughout his time at the club, stating even after the final Premier League outing that they will explore re-signing him.

"“Well we have a very clear and strong opinion on what we would like to do,” Arteta told the official Arsenal website. “He’s not our player. We’ll have discussions in the next few weeks, but first of all we need to respect that he’s a Real Madrid player. “I don’t know [if he will stay].”"

This is the overriding issue for Arsenal, that the ball is firmly in Madrid’s court. They can drive a hard bargain on his fee, anywhere up to around £40m, while they could even just flat out say no and decide to keep their player, one who is hugely talented. His technical level on the ball when in motion can be divine.

As for Odegaard, the reasons for him leaving were down to a lack of playing time. Zinedine Zidane has not fancied him since he joined the club, in the end sanctioning his departure for a third successive campaign.

When he returns to Spain, any decision on his future will rest on whether he can be be given the minutes his talent deserves. This Madrid side came close to a La Liga crown under Zidane, who looks to be on the door out, but where would he fit in?

The regular midfield trio at Madrid consists of Toni Kroos, Casemiro and Luka Modric, with Fede Valverde picking up minutes, too. This was supposed to be Modric’s final season with the club, but the Croatian has just signed a one-year extension.

This is an opportunity for Arsenal.

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