Arsenal are prepared to sanction the departure of captain Martin Odegaard this summer if they receive a suitable offer, according to the BBC's Sami Mokbel. The Gunners are looking to strengthen their squad after winning their first Premier League title in 22 years, and selling Odegaard could help fund moves for Morgan Rogers, Julian Alvarez, or Bradley Barcola.
Odegaard's declining impact due to injuries
Odegaard joined Arsenal on loan from Real Madrid five years ago and was appointed captain after Granit Xhaka's departure. However, a fractured ankle suffered while playing for Norway in September 2024 triggered a series of injuries, causing him to miss 30 matches for club and country last season. His influence on the pitch has waned, and Eberechi Eze, signed last summer, has taken on more playmaking duties.
Arsenal's transfer plans and potential suitors
Arsenal have a considerable budget but need to sell first-team players to land their main targets. Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain have been tentatively linked with Odegaard. Arsenal would look to make a substantial profit on the £30 million they paid to sign him from Real Madrid. Other players like Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard, and Christian Norgaard are also attracting interest.
Arsenal legend Paul Merson commented on Odegaard's future: "It's madness for me to be saying this, but they probably will be thinking about that [selling Martin Odegaard]. But for me, I still think there'll be teams queuing round the block for him… When you play in the position that Odegaard plays in, you're screaming out for pace up front. You have to have pace."
Arteta's ambition for Champions League success
After defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final, Mikel Arteta admitted he wants a side capable of fighting fire with fire, not relying solely on defensive fortitude. Josh Kroenke confirmed plans are underway to arm Arteta with a squad capable of defending the title and winning the Champions League.
