Arsenal confident Odegaard will join Ryan in moving to Emirates
Arsenal are hopeful of completing a loan move for Real Madrid playmaker Martin Odegaard, after agreeing a deal to sign Brighton goalkeeper Mat Ryan until the end of the season.
Mikel Arteta and technical director Edu have been looking to add more creativity to the squad and they are in advanced talks with Madrid over a short-term deal for
Odegaard, who has long been seen as one of Europe’s brightest prospects. The 22-year-old would help to fill the creative void left by the exclusion of Mesut Ozil, who is set to join Fenerbahce after agreeing to the termination of his contract.
Odegaard is available on a loan deal after falling out of favour under Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane.
The Norwegian started the first two league games of their season, but has played just five minutes of competitive action since early December.
Odegaard burst onto the scene as a teenager, attracting attention from top sides across Europe before signing for Madrid at the age of 16. He made his Norway debut at 15, becoming their youngest international, and has recently enjoyed successful loan spells at Vitesse Arnhem and Real Sociedad.
If a deal can be completed, Odegaard
would provide support for Emile Smith Rowe, who has thrived in a central attacking position in recent weeks. Arsenal do not want to hinder Smith Rowe’s development, but it is also clear they need more options in attacking positions.
The loan signing of Ryan from Brighton, meanwhile, provides cover for first-choice goalkeeper Bernd Leno. Back-up Alex Runarsson has failed to impress and Ryan provides experience in the Premier League, having been Brighton’s firstchoice for more than three years.
The Australian had lost his place in the Brighton team in recent weeks and is now ready to compete with Leno for a starting position at Arsenal.
Meanwhile, Arteta has said he does not want the club ever again to be in the position they were in with Greek centre-back Sokratis and German midfielder Ozil, where they were paying high wages to two players who were not even included on the squad list.
“Sometimes it’s impossible to see what’s going to happen in three years’ time,” Arteta said.
“We tried to resolve those situations early in the summer, to try to avoid what we had, but sometimes it is not possible as well.
“You don’t want to get into this position again, that is for sure,” he said. “Not for the player, not for the club. But it’s happening more and more at every club.”