Report: Arsenal to make second signing of the day within next few hours

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Arsenal are reportedly on the verge of signing Martin Odegaard on loan, with Spanish outlet AS saying the Norwegian is “hours away” from becoming a Gunners player.

The North Londoners are said to be looking for a new creative midfielder in January as cover for Emile Smith Rowe and to bolster the ranks after Mesut Ozil’s exit.

Meanwhile, Odegaard has struggled for game time at Real Madrid this season, and Zinedine Zidane is said to have approved a loan move away from the Bernabeu this month.

The 22-year-old joined the Spanish giants in 2015, a move deemed as a coup for both parties, one of the biggest clubs in the world signing one of the most highly rated youngsters in the game.

Odegaard’s progress has been somewhat slow, but following an impressive loan stint at Real Sociedad last term, it was hoped he’d kick on and cement a place in the RM first team.

This hasn’t been the case, and with just nine appearances – five of which have been starts – all  season, it looks as though the Norwegian prodigy has grown tired of warming the bench.

And according to AS, a switch to Arsenal could be closer than expected, saying he “will arrive in London on loan” and that the deal could be wrapped up imminently.

The Gunners signed Mat Ryan on loan from Brighton earlier on Friday.

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When reports of Odegaard looking for a loan move first emerged earlier this week, plenty of Arsenal fans called for the club to join the race for his signature.

And speculation linking Arsenal and Odegaard has picked up pace quickly, from initial interest to the latest reports claiming a move is all-but done.