Arsenal close in on the signing of Odegaard on loan
Arsenal are closing in on the signing of Martin Odegaard on loan from Real Madrid for the rest of the season, according to Chris Wheatley of football.london.
The Gunners have been in talks with the Spanish champions regarding the Norwegian midfielder but were not the only side to show an interest in the player. Real Sociedad, Sevilla and a host of English clubs were believed to be keen on signing Odegaard but it appears as though Arsenal have won the race to sign the 22-year-old.
Technical director Edu Gaspar spoke with Odegaard’s father Hans and his agent Bjorn Tore Kvarme and on-loan midfielder Dani Ceballos spoke to the player and has helped convince him to choose Arsenal over Real Sociedad where he spent the previous campaign on loan.
The six-month loan deal will not include a purchase option and is similar to the agreement the Gunners have with their Spanish counterparts over Ceballos, who is expected to return to Madrid in the summer.
On Odegaard, Ceballos said:
“Young players need to play regularly. “At Real Madrid, I needed to know that I would have equal opportunities. I was obsessed with playing again.I wasn’t getting minutes, but I realised it was best to work and reverse the situation and be important [with another club].”
“If I do this [go on loan], I’ll play again. It couldn’t have been any clearer.”
The North London side have a good relationship with Real Madrid after agreeing to sign Ceballos on loan for two successive seasons. They were also one of the clubs interested in signing Isco recently before the player decided to stay in Madrid after his wife gave birth.
Odegaard has made nine appearances for Los Blancos in all competitions this season but has made just three starts in La Liga. He is expected to miss training today before travelling to London to complete his transfer to Arsenal.
