Desperate for a playmaker in the January transfer window, Arsenal turned to old loan buddies Real Madrid for another player.
Previously acquiring the services of Dani Ceballos, the Gunners surprised many by securing those of Martin Ødegaard for the second half of the season.
The Norway international has done well in his relatively brief time at the Emirates, to the extent where Mikel Arteta would like to keep him around longer.
That, however, is going to prove difficult, as reports from Spain suggest the player is expected back in Madrid even if Zinedine Zidane remains as manager.
This is corroborated by German journalist Christian Falk on Friday for BILD, who explains that while Arsenal ‘would probably like to keep’ Ødegaard around next season, he’s ‘definitely too expensive’.
That means they will have to go elsewhere to replace him, with Julian Brandt touted as a likely target.
Since joining, the attacking midfielder has scored two goals in 13 appearances in all competitions.
