Arsenal have reportedly identified a Real Madrid prospect as a transfer target for 2025, the hope being to replicate a deal that they pulled off for Martin Odegaard.
Back at the start of 2021, the Gunners gave Odegaard a way out from his frustrating period with Los Blancos, who he had joined in 2015.
Although Odegaard had hopes of becoming a Real Madrid star when he was a youngster, the Norwegian was frequently loaned out and restricted to just nine senior appearances for the Spanish giants.
That led to the North Londoners signing Odegaard on a loan deal for the second half of 2020-21, allowing the playmaker to flourish in the Premier League.
Odegaard made 20 appearances in England's top flight and the Europa League, convincing Arsenal to shell out €40m on his signature and hand him a long-term contract.
Now 25 years of age, Odegaard is captain of both Arsenal and Norway, as well as regarded as one of the best midfielders in Europe, and it appears that club officials are ready to explore a similar way to tempt another starlet out of the Bernabeu.
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Guler to be offered Arsenal lifeline?
As per Sport, Arsenal want to provide Arda Guler with the same platform that they offered Odegaard almost four years ago.
The Turkish sensation left Fenerbahce with the ambition of immediately establishing himself as a key player under Carlo Ancelotti at Real.
While injury did not help that bid, Guler has still only made seven starts in La Liga across a near 18-month stretch, with only one other start coming in a different competition.
With regards to this season, the 19-year-old has been restricted to three starts and nine substitute outings, with just 42 minutes being provided in the Champions League.
In the last six La Liga games where he has been available, Guler has featured just three times as a substitute, not playing for longer than 15 minutes.
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Would Real be open to loan?
The report claims that Arsenal are ready to propose a loan arrangement for Guler at the midway point of the campaign, it unclear whether that would include an option to buy.
Real have the creator tied down to a contract that runs until 2029 and can argue that is development remains on an upward trajectory with six starts having been made for Turkey since the start of September.
A deal may become feasible if Real are in need of creating financial leeway to bolster their effort to sign a new defender. That has become a priority due to the long-term injuries to Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao.
Darren Plant
