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Martin Ødegaard is expected to join Arsenal on loan from Real Madrid this week and could complete the move on Monday. Arsenal have agreed to pay a £1.8 million loan fee for the creative midfielder plus his wage of £38,000 a week, which would make the total outlay about £2.5m until the end of May.
Arsenal do not have the option in the deal to sign Ødegaard, 22, on a permanent transfer as Real want him available for a new head coach if Zinedine Zidane leaves his post as head coach at the end of the season.
Mikel Arteta telephoned Ødegaard to convince him to move to London rather than return to Real Sociedad where he shone and scored four goals and claimed six assists in the league last season. Ajax had also expressed interest.
Arteta wants the midfielder to help address his team’s lack of creativity which saw them have 62 per cent of the possession but manage just two shots on target in losing 1-0 to Southampton and knocked out of the FA Cup on Saturday.
Ødegaard will be Arteta’s second signing of the January transfer window, after Matthew Ryan moved from Brighton & Hove Albion, and will join Dani Ceballos also a midfielder who is on loan from Real until the summer.
Arsenal have not often been successful with loan signings in the middle of the season. Denis Suárez did not start any of his four league matches after the midfielder moved from Barcelona two years ago. Kim Kallstrom started just one of his three league matches after the midfielder’s temporary move in January 2014. Cedric Soares did not play at all after his move this time last season but the deal ensured Arsenal would sign him on a permanent transfer in July.
Ødegaard rose to prominence when he became the youngest player to appear and score in the Norwegian Premier League before he joined Real at the age of 16. He has made seven league appearances, three as a starter, for Real this season.
Sociedad believed that they were close to re-signing him on loan but they wanted the deal to include an option for the loan to be extended or potentially a purchase, which Real would not agree to. Arsenal took advantage and proposed a straight loan. Arsenal had also looked at signing Isco on loan from Real although his representatives had downplayed a move.
Arsenal do not have the option in the deal to sign Ødegaard, 22, on a permanent transfer as Real want him available for a new head coach if Zinedine Zidane leaves his post as head coach at the end of the season.
Mikel Arteta telephoned Ødegaard to convince him to move to London rather than return to Real Sociedad where he shone and scored four goals and claimed six assists in the league last season. Ajax had also expressed interest.
Arteta wants the midfielder to help address his team’s lack of creativity which saw them have 62 per cent of the possession but manage just two shots on target in losing 1-0 to Southampton and knocked out of the FA Cup on Saturday.
Ødegaard will be Arteta’s second signing of the January transfer window, after Matthew Ryan moved from Brighton & Hove Albion, and will join Dani Ceballos also a midfielder who is on loan from Real until the summer.
Arsenal have not often been successful with loan signings in the middle of the season. Denis Suárez did not start any of his four league matches after the midfielder moved from Barcelona two years ago. Kim Kallstrom started just one of his three league matches after the midfielder’s temporary move in January 2014. Cedric Soares did not play at all after his move this time last season but the deal ensured Arsenal would sign him on a permanent transfer in July.
Ødegaard rose to prominence when he became the youngest player to appear and score in the Norwegian Premier League before he joined Real at the age of 16. He has made seven league appearances, three as a starter, for Real this season.
Sociedad believed that they were close to re-signing him on loan but they wanted the deal to include an option for the loan to be extended or potentially a purchase, which Real would not agree to. Arsenal took advantage and proposed a straight loan. Arsenal had also looked at signing Isco on loan from Real although his representatives had downplayed a move.
