Report: Real Madrid won’t sell Martin Odegaard to Arsenal this summer

Add as preferred source on Google

Arsenal have been dealt a major transfer blow ahead of the summer, with Marca claiming Real Madrid will not consider selling Martin Odegaard.

The Norwegian midfielder has been impressing for the Gunners since arriving at the club in January. Odegaard, 22, is seen as one of the missing links for Arsenal, with his ability to play the number ten role with ease.

But Marca now claim that Odegaard, along with the likes of Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo, are considered ‘untouchables’ by the Madrid board.

That news is a bitter blow for Arsenal and Mikel Arteta, who will be riding high this morning after getting to the Europa League semi-finals following a mammoth win against Slavia Prague.

However, Arsenal will be comforted by the fact Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka continued to impress and improve. If Odegaard isn’t able to be signed, Smith Rowe could well be tasked with being that number ten.

TBR View: Odegaard would be good for Arsenal but others can step up

And that was proven last night, especially when you look at Smith Rowe and Saka’s displays. Nicolas Pepe also played well, while Alex Lacazette has shown an ability to drop deep and get involved too.

Odegaard is, of course, a fine player in his own right. If he did sign, he’d be quite the capture for the Gunners.

But with others stepping up to the plate, maybe the importance of signing Odegaard is not quite as high as it might have once been.