Real Madrid are ready to welcome Martin Odegaard back to the club ‘with open arms’ following his loan spell at Arsenal, so they can use him to get Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund.
That’s according to Defensa Central, who say the midfielder is wanted by the German club as part of any deal for the striker.
Odegaard is currently on loan at Arsenal from Real Madrid after pushing for an exit in January after a disappointing first half of the season in Spain.
His loan deal at the Emirates doesn’t include a purchase option, and so he’s expected to return to Madrid once his loan deal with Arsenal has concluded.
There has already been talk that the Gunners might have a chance of keeping him longer and that Odegaard could see himself staying, at least for another year, as Dani Ceballos has done.
However, the prospects of that look slim, with DC stating Madrid and Dortmund are actually cooking up a transfer plan involving the midfielder.
They state that the two clubs have a ‘great relationship’ and so anything can be on the table for Haaland, who is wanted by half of Europe.
Madrid, for their part, want to include Luka Jovic or Mariano Diaz as part of the transfer, but Dortmund have made it clear they’re not interested in either player.
Instead, they want Odegaard in a player plus cash deal for their prize striker, and this could be doable once he returns from Arsenal.
It’s claimed that while Madrid are waiting for him ‘with open arms’, he’s not going to be a ‘relevant player’ until he proves himself to Zinedine Zidane.
That hasn’t happened yet, and thus Madrid could be open to selling to get the man they really want and leave Arsenal’s hopes of getting Odegaard permanently in tatters.
