Arsenal ‘make contact’ with Real Madrid in order to sign next Martin Odegaard

Arsenal will be hoping to repeat the success they achieved in signing Martin Odegaard by targeting another Real Madrid youngster who is struggling to break through.

The Gunners signed their captain in 2021 after a spell on loan at the Emirates, in a deal worth £30 million. The Norwegian star was signed as a football prodigy when Los Blancos plucked him from Strømsgodset just a month after he turned 16.

However, Odegaard only played eleven games for Real Madrid and was loaned out to Heerenveen, Vitesse and Real Sociedad for a while before La Liga decided to cash in. Arsenal certainly benefited from it.

Mikel Arteta's team will now try to seduce the Spanish club again. Spanish outlet Sport reports that the Gunners are hoping to sign Turkish international Arda Guler and have opened talks with the young star.

Real Madrid signed the 19-year-old from Fenerbahce in 2023, awarding him a six-year contract. The Turkish ace scored six goals in 24 appearances for Les Merengues, although he failed to find the net in his 12 appearances in 2024/2025.

Reports suggest Guler is unhappy at the Bernabeu after making just three starts this season. It is claimed that Arsenal are one of several teams who have contacted the player's representatives and are interested in securing a loan before making a permanent signing.

Guler, in turn, would not have given up on his breakthrough at Real Madrid. Even though it looks like he'll have to wait.

Carlo Ancelotti said earlier this month that both Endrick and Guler were ready for more minutes. However, the Italian was reluctant to provide them.

“[Endrick is] ready to play, doing very well and showing a lot of quality in training,” he said. “I say the same about Güler. It's young people who are pushing. But the collective idea is to turn things around as quickly as possible. Can you do that with them? Yes. But the goal is to turn the tide, that is the priority. Not to give minutes to one player or the other.”

Despite limited minutes in domestic football this season, Guler has played a more important role for Turkey. The teenager started each of the country's six Nations League matches, providing a goal and an assist in that time.