According to a report by Spanish outlet Fichajes, Barcelona are plotting an audacious move for Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard, and it remains to be seen whether they can get the deal done.
The Norwegian international has been an excellent acquisition for Arsenal since his £30 million move from Real Madrid, and he has established himself as a key player for the club. The Gunners are looking to build a formidable squad for the future, and they will not want to sell one of their best players.
Odegaard is also the captain of the club, and losing him would be a blow for the north London outfit. It will be extremely difficult for Barcelona to get the deal across the line. The player is enjoying his football at the Premier League club and he has no reason to force an exit. It remains to be seen whether Barcelona can convince the player to join the club.
The reigning La Liga champions are among the biggest clubs in the world and the opportunity to join them can be attractive for most players. However, Arsenal are competing at a similar level right now. They are pushing for major trophies consistently, and the midfielder will want to win trophies with them instead of moving on.
Also, the player is likely to cost a substantial amount of money given his importance to the side. Barcelona are going through financial difficulties, and it will be difficult for them to afford the Arsenal midfielder anytime soon. However, they have other attacking midfielders on their wishlist, including Scott McTominay.
Arsenal have been very active in the transfer market but they need to hold on to their base players as well. Selling their captain would send out the wrong statement, and Arsenal are unlikely to let him move on anytime soon. It remains to be seen whether Barcelona decide to test their resolve with an offer to sign Odegaard in the coming months.
There is no doubt that the Arsenal captain would be a quality acquisition for them. He has the physicality and technical attributes to compete in La Liga. The 26-year-old has previously failed to make his mark at Real Madrid, and he might feel that he has unfinished business in Spain. However, any move seems unlikely for the foreseeable future.
