Arsenal insider Charles Watts has given his views on the Gunners’ potential signing of Real Madrid midfielder Martin Odegaard.
The Norwegian was signed by Arsenal on loan in the January transfer window and was able to make something of an impact during his time at the Emirates Stadium, with some calling him their ‘missing piece’ as they looked to fill a creative void within the side.
Arsenal had hoped to keep him at the club beyond this summer, but following an interview with Norwegian outlet TV2 (via Eurosport), in which he seemed to hint that his future was in Madrid, that seemed to be the end of the matter.
However, speaking on the latest edition of his show, Watts seemed to think that there was still a chance that Madrid might look to get him out the door before the window was over if they needed to raise funds to bring someone else in:
“Arsenal were hoping to get Odegaard back as well, that’s looking more and more unlikely. Although I still wouldn’t totally rule that out as we get towards the end of the window.
“Anything can happen when it comes to Real Madrid and if their plans [changing], if they get sniff of a chance of getting [Kylian] Mbappe before the end of the window, it wouldn’t at all surprise me to see Odegaard suddenly become available again.
“So I wouldn’t totally rule that out.”
TIF Thoughts on Charles Watts’ comments about Arsenal and Martin Odegaard…
Do you want Odegaard back at Arsenal?
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No
As Watts points out in a recent article, it is still ‘so important’ for Arsenal to fix that creative hole that’s still missing at the club, with the Gunners chasing a number of options to try and fill it.
Meanwhile, Watts’ comments in his video should be tempered by reports coming out of Spain suggesting that Odegaard could stay to fill the void left by Toni Kroos after his recent injury.
But there is still a way to go in the window, so things might change in the Gunners’ favour if his injury isn’t as bad as first thought, or as Watts suggests, if they decide to go with a one in, one out policy to secure a signing.
But for the most part, it would seem like there are other, more realistic options out there for the club to pursue, even if they do have to pay over the odds to try and land them.
In other news: ‘You talk to anyone in and around Leicester’ – Watts drops James Maddison claim at Arsenal