Real Madrid would apparently be willing to trade Martin Odegaard with Emile Smith Rowe, opening the possibility of a swap deal up for Arsenal.
The Daily Mail say that Madrid are hoping to take advantage of Arsenal’s eagerness to sign Odegaard.
The Spanish giants fancy Smith Rowe, who has just two years left on his current deal at Arsenal.
And rather than taking money for Odegaard, Carlo Ancelotti’s side will apparently offer Arsenal to chance to simply swap Smith Rowe for him.
Is it likely?
Whether that would appeal to the Gunners seems very doubtful.
Smith Rowe was an integral part of Arsenal’s plans towards the back end of last season, and it seems almost certain that Mikel Arteta would like to have him and Odegaard at the Emirates Stadium next season, rather than just one of them.
However, Arsenal are having to work cleverly, given their financial limitations, and Arteta has made no secret of his admiration for Odegaard.
The Spanish boss constantly praised Odegaard last term, and it was claimed on Sky Sports that Arteta ‘loved’ him during his time at the club.
The latest report, therefore, adds an extra layer of intrigue into a transfer window which really seems to be hotting up at the Emirates Stadium now.
But if Arsenal were to go through with the swap deal, it would likely be one which severely divides opinion among the club’s fan-base.
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