Arsenal transfer for Martin Odegaard nears after overnight talks with Real Madrid as Sociedad boss confirms move
ARSENAL are a step closer to signing Martin Odegaard on loan until the end of the season after overnight talks with Real Madrid.
The 22-year-old Norwegian is expected to now complete his switch to the Emirates next week following succesful discussions.
The attacking midfielder decided to snub Real Sociedad and join the Gunners – with Mikel Arteta desperate for a Mesut Ozil replacement.
According to reports, Odegaard will continue to finalise his transfer today and tomorrow while Arsenal face Southampton in the FA Cup.
It is understood Dutch giants Ajax made a late swoop for him, but he had already made his decision to move to England.
Meanwhile, Sociedad boss Imanol Alguacil confirmed the former Heerenveen and Vitesse man was on his way to the Emirates.
He said yesterday: “The possibility of Odegaard returning here doesn’t exist.
“He was really close, but when Arsenal joined the race and Arteta called him, Odegaard changed his mind.”
Yesterday, SunSport revealed how the youngster was ‘one step away’ from sealing his move to Arsenal for the rest of the campaign.
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He has made just three appearances for Real in La Liga this season, as Zinedine Zidane fights to save his job.
Leicester had also looked at signing him, but pulled out of a deal after claims he wanted to move to the Premier League on a permanent switch.
Odegaard, who has been capped 25 times by Norway, was signed by Real Madrid as a teenage prodigy in 2015.