Arsenal ‘determined to seal Martin Odegaard transfer this month with Real Madrid ready to sell on permanent deal’

ARSENAL remain determined to sign Martin Odegaard from Real Madrid, according to reports.

The 22-year-old impressed on loan with the Gunners last season and Mikel Arteta was hoping to come to a similar arrangement this term.

Arsenal were initially told playmaker Odegaard would be staying put.

But Odegaard is said to be concerned about how many minutes he will get under new boss Carlo Ancelotti at the Bernabeu.

And Los Blancos are now believed to be willing to let the Norwegian leave… however only on a permanent deal.

Casemiro, Luka Modric and Toni Kroos are said to be Ancelotti’s preferred midfield options.

Real have set their Odegaard asking price at £42.5million.

And, according to football.london, Arsenal reckon a deal is there to be done.

Madrid believe the midfielder does have a future at the club, but won’t rule out sanctioning a sale if the player asks to leave and a their valuation is hit.

The LaLiga giants are hopeful Odegaard decides to stay at Real, despite reports suggesting the player is unsettled.

An ongoing debate inside Real is whether Odegaard is ready to step up and stamp down a first team place, succeeding an ageing Modric.

Or whether the player isn’t up for the fight and is looking for a way out.

Real are preparing for massive changes at the club, in particular in the midfield.

Modric has just a year left on his current deal, and midfield partner Kroos is 31.

Midfield enforcer Casemiro is also almost 30, so Real are turning to 23-year-old Federico Valverde and possibly Odegaard to carry the torch when the time comes.

Although Arsenal are keen on Odegaard, Real are not willing to let the player leave on loan.

JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)

DREAM TEAM IS BACK! SIGN UP NOW FOR THE 21/22 SEASON FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN £100,000

Odegaard has also failed to impress during Real’s pre-season fixtures, garnering criticism from the Spanish press for his performance in the loss to Scottish champions Rangers.

AS’ Tomas Roncero blasted: “Odegaard is the eternal promise. Surrounded by homegrown players, he should have said ‘here I am’.

“What is there to do? Like at Arsenal, do they all play for him? Martin, you are in Madrid. Wake up, macho.”

⚽ Read our Arsenal live blog for the latest news and transfer gossip from The Emirates

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk