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Arsenal forced into huge Martin Odegaard transfer rethink

By Ross Kennerley

LEICESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 28: Martin Odegaard of Arsenal looks on during the Premier League match between Leicester City and Arsenal at The King Power Stadium on February 28, 2021 in Leicester, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images)
LEICESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 28: Martin Odegaard of Arsenal looks on during the Premier League match between Leicester City and Arsenal at The King Power Stadium on February 28, 2021 in Leicester, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images) /
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Arsenal, Martin Odegaard
OSLO, NORWAY – OCTOBER 14: Martin Odegaard of Norway during the UEFA Nations League group stage match between Norway and Northern Ireland at Ullevaal Stadion on October 14, 2020 in Oslo, Norway. (Photo by Trond Tandberg/Getty Images) /

Arsenal’s Chances of Signing Martin Odegaard

Slim is slim. There isn’t much wiggle room. Whatever hopes Arsenal would have had with Odegaard rested on the players’ desires. Just like in January, it was the midfielder who pushed for a loan move, one Madrid initially didn’t want, but eventually gave into.

With Carlo Ancelotti joining the club as the new boss, Odegaard’s determination to push through a Gunners return has ‘diminished substantially’. As it stands he’s part of Los Blancos’ plans for next season, even if a face-to-face conversation is yet to be held between player and manager.

Unless there is significant change, he will stay.

Nobody can blame him. Madrid will challenge for the title again, are a huge footballing institution and have European football on hand. Arsenal can only lay claim to one of those aspects and it’s not a pull anywhere near their level.

It means that the club need to really get to work this window. They won’t opt out of Odegaard entirely yet but as their case grows weaker other targets have to be pursued with more vigour.

Who exactly they may be isn’t especially known yet. The Emi Buendia ship has sailed after one £30m bid, while following on from there it’s been mostly very faint Nabil Fekir talk, which hasn’t developed into anything serious.

Joaquin Correa talk has emerged of late but will take some moulding if he arrives given his more natural role as a striker/second striker, while other reports have linked Arsenal with a move for Rodrigo De Paul, who is currently away with Argentina in the Copa America.

It would come as no surprise for a few brand new name to emerge from the depths of the transfer window given the latest Odegaard developments.

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Odegaard would have been an excellent acquisition given his familiarity with the club, how easily he slotted in and his endearing skillset, but for £50m it’s a deal to close the curtain on. Furthermore, if Arsenal have been told Madrid’s stance then they’ll at least be grateful it has arrived early in the window. There are still close to 11 weeks to go.

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