Arsenal eyeing transfer opportunity for 19-year-old who could be next Martin Odegaard

Arsenal has reportedly expressed interest in signing Real Madrid midfielder Arda Güler, according to Spanish sources. The 19-year-old, who joined Madrid from Fenerbahçe in a €20 million (£17 million) deal last year, has struggled for consistent game time this season, starting just three matches across all competitions despite showing promise in his debut La Liga campaign and performing well for Turkey at Euro 2024.

Güler’s frustration with limited opportunities at Real Madrid has reportedly opened the door for Arsenal, who have reached out to the player’s representatives to gauge his interest in a Premier League move. Comparisons are already being drawn between Güler’s situation and that of Martin Ødegaard, who also experienced limited opportunities at Madrid before joining Arsenal on loan in 2021. Ødegaard’s move was later made permanent for £30 million, and he has since become a vital player under Mikel Arteta.

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti recently addressed questions about the lack of minutes for young players like Güler and Brazilian forward Endrick, who arrived this summer in a £51 million move from Palmeiras. Ancelotti emphasized the importance of focusing on team results over individual game time, saying, “The primary goal is to turn things around as rapidly as possible, not to allocate minutes to one player over another.”

Arsenal’s interest reflects their strategy of investing in young talent with high potential, as they continue to build a squad capable of competing at the highest level domestically and in Europe. It remains to be seen whether Güler would consider a move to the Premier League or if Real Madrid would be open to negotiating his departure.