Arsenal transfer stance on Maddison, Aouar & Odegaard revealed

Arsenal See Martin Odegaard as Their Number One Transfer Target

Arsenal are still holding out for the 22-year-old’s signature this summer and are willing to bide their time to get a deal over the line. Having made it clear to Real Madrid that they will meet their demands once he becomes a viable option, they sit and wait.

Key to their chances are Odegaard signalling to Carlo Ancelotti’s side that he wants to leave. Once he pushes for an exit, which will become clearer once La Liga kicks off and he sees where he is in the pecking order, Arsenal can make their move. Reports state that Los Blancos are said to want around £40m.

Already well familiar with his surroundings, while it’s never ideal to get transfer business concluded so late in the window – the Gunners love a late deadline dash – with Odegaard there is at least some solace to take in knowing he won’t need long to acclimatise to the Premier League or integrate with the group. One that hasn’t exactly changed much.

Arteta and his coaching staff were enamoured with the midfielder during his short stint at the club. His professionalism, work rate, visionary quality and leadership were all on show despite him only starting nine league matches, and he produced some fine performances considering the circumstances.

Having arrived injured, Odegaard had to settle and adjust in mid-season, live in a COVID-19 bubble away from home, play in a disfunctioning side (albeit one improving in 2021) and then recover from another injury before playing again.

All of which is very fair mitigation for a 22-year-old who has spent the last four seasons away on loan.

Odegaard has a ceiling. It’s very high. Seeing glimpses of what he could bring to Arsenal, is there more to come? Fully fit and settled, it appears as if Arteta thinks so.

But, what happens if this deal doesn’t happen? Well, Houssem Aouar isn’t entirely out of the question just yet.