Arsenal told to cough up £52m for Martin Odegaard transfer with Real Madrid refusing to let midfielder leave on cheap
ARSENAL have been told to stump up £52million if they want to keep Martin Odegaard, reports say.
The Norway playmaker, 22, played 20 times for the Gunners after joining on loan from Real Madrid in January.
The Spanish giants will reportedly listen to offers because of Odegaard's attitude.
He could still force his way back into Real's plans, though, after manager Zinedine Zidane left the club.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said his side will open transfer talks with Real Madrid about Odegaard.
Speaking on the final day of the season, Arteta said: “We have a very clear and strong opinion on what we would like to do.
“He’s not our player. We’ll have discussions in the next few weeks, but first of all we need to respect that he’s a Real Madrid player.
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“We’ll have those communications. We’ve tried to make everything that we could to get Martin performing for the team, which I think he’s done.
“He has adapted really well to our way of playing and to our football. Hopefully we have given him the hope and the feeling this could be a good place for him.
“[Confident Odegaard will stay?] I don’t know. It’s not in our hands, I don’t know.”