Escape route to Odegaard

That Arteta is a great admirer of Martin Odegaard is no secret. The Basque coach has already praised the Norwegian midfielder repeatedly during his loan at Arsenal. Like the madridista said he felt very loved at the Emirates. However, he returned to Madrid, his club, ready to win the position with Carlo Ancelotti and is now part of the casting of meritorious Italian coach. Even though it was Zidane's request last year, he did not have the confidence that he expected and decided to ask to go out in the winter market, a movement that from London they hope will be repeated.

Set gunner seemed to give up in her intention to have him again, but according to Sky Sports, they hope again. If the preseason does not remove the buzz around Odegaard, Arsenal would be delighted to open the doors of the Premier once again. Arteta already said it at the end of last year when questioned about the future of Drammen's: “We have a very clear and determined opinion on what we would like to do. But he is not our player. I do not know what can happen, it is not in our hands, in the next few days there will be negotiations. “Those conversations did not crystallize in a new assignment or a potential sale, something that the white set has never valued, but the illusion, always according to the information slipped through the British milieu, it is the last thing to be lost.

“We have done everything possible to get Martin to play for the team, hopefully we have given him the feeling that this is a good place for him.”added the Basque coach. 20 games, settled with two goals and as many assists, was the baggage of the 22-year-old footballer with the Gunners. Little by little he took over the title and, although he shone as much as he did in Real Sociedad, his importance in the team's game went beyond simple statistics. In the white preseason, even more is expected of him, as against Glasgow Rangers, where he participated in the only goal of the team (2-1 for Gerrard's), but more incidence was missed in the game, the one that did have at the Emirates.

Maddison, the alternative

Although at Arsenal they are clear that the Odegaard option is, at the moment, remote. Hence they have in James Maddison his primary objective. However, taking Leicester out of the King Power Stadium will be costly, more than 80 million euros, because there are no emergencies to sell. The playmaker ends his contract in 2024 and we already know how the foxes when they have the upper hand.

Manchester United already proved it when he had to turn Harry Maguire into the most expensive center-back in history (85 million) to finalize his signing. Therefore, they are attentive to how the 'Odegaard case' evolves … if there is one. Lokonga and Nuno Tavares have already arrived and Ben White is ready, so the incorporation of an offensive midfielder would be the icing on the cake of the summer. As for Odegaard, he already knows he has an escape route should he need one.