Arsenal: 3 reasons Martin Odegaard loan transfer works

3. First Refusal Price is £30m

As mentioned, the report is the only one so far to come out with this payment structure so there is no definitive answer on how Odegaard might arrive at Arsenal.

Real Madrid leaving him out of the squad didn’t exactly strengthen their position, yet they have a very talented young player on their hands and the most interested party isn’t in any great position of their own to be snobbish and haggle their own terms.

Arsenal will start out low, however, and likely work their way up, with a loan almost certain to be floated Madrid’s direction for the two reasons already mentioned.

As per this report, the first refusal on Odegaard will be around £30m, so as long as no other club bids higher next summer that will be the price. And it’s a bargain. For someone with a ceiling as high as Odegaard’s, it’s a great fee.

Granted, in 12 months he’ll only have a year left on his contract so Los Blancos will be thinking likewise. Yet having had him for 18 months prior to any £30m outlay and only paying wages and a minimal loan fee, it balances out nicely.

£30m is over half what James Maddison would have cost. Odegaard is not half the player. And he’s younger.