Arsenal on brink of sealing permanent £30m Martin Odegaard deal from Real Madrid
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Arsenal are closing in on a £30million deal with Real Madrid for Martin Odegaard – and he could feature against Chelsea this weekend.
Odegaard, 22, impressed on loan at the Emirates last season and has been a target for the north Londoners ever since.
He was heavily linked with a move at the start of the transfer window, but that interest appeared to cool as the summer wore on.
Now, though, it appears Odegaard will indeed make a sensational return to the Gunners with Mikel Arteta looking increasingly likely to get his man.
According to The Athletic a deal has not yet been finalised, but it is understood the Norwegian did not train with the main group at Real Madrid on Tuesday, ahead of a possible transfer.
It is understood that Odegaard has agreed personal terms until 2026 having only made a handful of appearances for Los Blancos since he joined the club from Stromsgodset in 2015.
Should a deal go through, it is believed the fee will be in the region of £30million – significantly lower than the £50million that Madrid were reportedly demanding earlier in the window.
The Athletic's report adds that Odegaard could even feature for Arsenal against Chelsea on Sunday, although that requires a lot of work to be done in a short space of time.
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Nevertheless, it is good news for a Gunners side that looked devoid of creativity in their Premier League opener away to Brentford last Friday.
Arteta will be hoping Odegaard can solve that problem after the midfielder made a positive impression during his loan last season, where he made 20 appearances and scored two goals.
Although he has featured for Real Madrid in pre-season, the midfielder was not included in Carlo Ancelotti's matchday squad for Saturday's 4-1 win over Alaves.
He is now expected to complete a move to the Emirates as Arteta finishes his search for a creative midfielder capable of helping the Gunners challenge for the top-six.
Arsenal have also been linked with moves for Houssem Aouar and James Maddison during the transfer window, but for various reasons, neither of those worked out.
Elsewhere, the Gunners are still hoping to sign Sheffield United goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale and have reopened negotiations with the Championship club.
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