Martin Odegaard’s contract clause spells bad news for Arsenal transfer hopes

Martin Odegaard has impressed during his loan spell at Arsenal this season, with the midfielder helping the Gunners get back on track in the Premier League and earn a spot in the quarter-finals of the Europa League.

The 22-year-old joined Arsenal on loan from Real Madrid in January, but the deal does not contain an option to buy.

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta has been full of praise for Odegaard and reports have claimed that he wants the club to sign the Norwegian international permanently.

However, with no option to buy, a reported £301m release clause and a deal which runs until 2023, that could prove to be difficult.

Real may be willing to let Odegaard leave but they will surely demand a bumper fee for the talented playmaker.

Gunners defender Calum Chambers said earlier this month that Odegaard already "feels at home" at the Emirates, saying: "He has done brilliant. He is a great lad if you speak to him and I get on well with him.

"He feels at home here, he's doing well and he works incredibly hard – in training and games. I think everyone is really pleased and I hope he continues this form."

Speaking after Arsenal's dramatic 3-3 draw with West Ham on Sunday, Arteta said: "I think he [Odegaard] had an incredible performance, he was very intelligent the way he read the game, the way he affected the game and again he showed how much he wants to win.

"When everyone was a little bit trembling, he gave us that composure on the ball and he created chance after chance.

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"I love talented and creative players that all the time are willing to take that ball and make things happen, that are mobile and also hard-working. He is one of them.

"We have some others with different qualities but it's true that Martin is now giving us a different level on certain things that we didn't have."

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