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Player in London for medical as Arsenal close-in on second January signing

By mac14 on January 25, 2021

According to Goal, Martin Odegaard is in London to undergo his medical with Arsenal today and seal a 6-month loan move from Real Madrid.

Arsenal have been desperately trying to add more creativity to the squad this month and Odegaard emerged as a key target last week when it was widely reported that we’d opened talks with Madrid about a short-term deal.

Following a phonecall with Mikel Arteta, Odegaard was convinced to join Arsenal over other Premier League clubs after Madrid made it clear they wanted him to go abroad rather than stay in La Liga and re-join Real Sociedad.

Odegaard was open to the idea of heading back to San Sebastian after enjoying an excellent year on loan with Sociedad last season where he provided seven goals and nine assists in 36 games but Madrid blocked the move.

That’s worked out well for Arsenal as Goal claims the attacking midfielder flew-in to London on Sunday evening and was due to arrive at London Colney this morning to undergo his medical and put the finishing touches on his 6-month loan move to the Emirates.

The report says Arsenal have paid Madrid a loan fee [believed to be around £2m] and will cover Odegaard’s £38,000-a-week wages but unfortunately there is no option to make the move permanent in the summer included in the deal.

The move is expected to be announced later today so Odegaard is set to become our second signing of the January window after goalkeeper Mat Ryan arrived on loan from Brighton last week.

Odegaard should be an exciting addition to the squad as although he’s been unable to force his way into Zinedine Zidane’s plans at the Bernabeu, there is no doubting his quality and potential.

Odegaard is seen as one of the best young playmakers in Spanish football so he’ll provide stiff competition to Emile Smith Rowe for the No.10 shirt. The Norwegian international can also play out wide so he’ll give Arteta a useful option in the final third.

Hopefully he can settle quickly and make a real impression during the second half of the season. It’s just a shame we don’t have an option to buy him in the summer.

Odegaard could be registered in time to make his debut against Southampton on Tuesday night, although it’s more likely he’ll be in the squad to face Man Utd at the weekend.