Player who reportedly wants Arsenal transfer now had an offer from Liverpool in 2019

A report in The Athletic this week claimed that Arsenal are interested in signing Martin Odegaard on loan from Real Madrid.

The report stated that the Gunners are among the clubs in talks over signing the 22-year-old attacking midfielder on a loan deal from Madrid.

Arsenal technical director Edu has been in talks for a week, according to the report, while well-known and well-respected journalist Fabrizio Romano has claimed on Twitter that the Norway international is tempted by a loan move to the Emirates Stadium.

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Martin Ødegaard is ‘tempted’ by Arsenal loan bid, he’s gonna decide together with his family.

Real Sociedad are in advanced talks to sign him by one week [leading the race over Ajax], always been Martin’s priority by months. #AFC offer led him to take hours/days of reflection.

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 21, 2021

Odegaard is hugely talented, but the youngster has been struggling for playing time at Madrid this season, having managed just three starts and four substitute appearances in La Liga and two appearances in the Champions League, according to WhoScored.

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While some Arsenal fans will be sceptical about signing a struggling 22-year-old attacking midfielder on loan, especially with the emergence of Emile Smith Rowe, they will be encouraged to know that Liverpool made an offer for him not so long ago.

Leonid Slutski worked with Odegaard when the attacking midfielder spent the 2018-19 campaign on loan at Vitesse from Madrid, and he claimed that Liverpool were among the clubs who made offers for him.

Slutski told Sport in April 2020, as covered by HITC Sport at the time: “Last season was the best of his career. His performance at Vitesse was very important to him and allowed him to receive many offers, not only from Real Sociedad, but also from Liverpool and Ajax.”

Liverpool would not make offers for just any player, and if those at the defending Premier League champions thought that Odegaard would be good for the team, then Arsenal fans should be encouraged by reports linking the Gunners with the youngster.

In other news, Report: Paul Joyce shares when he expects Henderson to return from injury for Liverpool