Martin Odegaard, who first arrived at the Emirates Stadium on a loan from Real Madrid, has not only become a vital part of Mikel Arteta's plans at Arsenal but inherited the captain's armband from Alexandre Lacazette.
Now, if some reports are to be trusted, Arsenal is preparing to bring home another unsettled Real Madrid star home. If Odegaard was in his early 20s when he became a Gunner, the player linked with the club now is a teenager -- the most promising prodigy of his homeland.
Turkish attacker Arda Guler, who arrived at the Spanish capital from Fernabache, is reportedly upset with the lack of gametime he is getting in the star-studded team. Guler and Brazilain wonderkid Endrick have been largely used as late substitutes by Carlo Ancelotti who got the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Brahim Diaz and Rodrygo Goes at his disposal.
Ever since his arrival in 2023, Guler has received a little over 300 minutes across 12 games in the famous white shirt of the La Liga champions. The 19-year-old was spectacular for Turkiye in the Euro 2024 but his fortunes didn't alter much at the Santiago Bernabeu. Guler is reportedly upset about the limited gametime harming him from reaching his full potential in the formative years.
Martin Odegaard's Arsenal journey
Odegaard's story was not very different at the Spanish capital. With the likes of Isco, Luka Modric, Casemiro and Toni Kroos ruling the Real Madrid midfield, the Castilla pass-out had little hope of establishing himself in the starting lineup. After several loans, the Norwegian reached Arsenal in the winter of 2021.
Impressed by his ball control and attacking prowess, the Gunners soon decided to make his move permanent for €40 million. Odegaard and Mikel Arteta continue to be among the best manager-captain combos in Premier League ever since.
Will Real Madrid sell Arda Guler?
According to news reports, Arsenal is willing to shell out upto 40 million euros to sign Guler. However, negotiations with Real Madrid are not going be easy as the Los Blancos are in no mood to sell the gifted boy. Although he couldn't be used regularly in the season so far, the packed second-half of the season is likely to force Ancelotti to heavily rotate his lineups. This means the teenager may get to start games across competitions post-January.
Also, Guler is considered a future 'Galatico' by the defending European champions. Alongside Jude Bellingham, Eduardo Camavinga, Endrick and other youngsters, Real Madrid are said to be in the process of building a force to reckon with for the years to come. Losing Guler could hamper these plans drastically, reports point out. A veteran manager like Ancelotti should be able to convince Arda Guler to remain patient for a bit more instead of making any hasty decisions, they added.
