Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has reportedly emerged as a target for Spanish giants Barcelona as they solidify their plans for next summer. The Gunners are eager to work out the details of a new deal with the Norway international in a bid to tie him to the club.
A report from Fichajes (via CaughtOffside) has revealed that Hansi Flick's Barcelona are weighing up a move for Odegaard for next summer. They will look to revive their interest in the 26-year-old, who was on their radar as a prodigy in his native Norway in 2014.
Martin Odegaard has a contract with Arsenal until 2028, leaving him with 30 months remaining on his present deal at the Emirates. He moved to the Premier League after failing to break into the Real Madrid team following a number of spells away from the Santiago Bernabeu on loan.
Odegaard was a target for Barcelona after his emergence as a teenage star with Stromsgodset, with the club inviting his father and agent to the Nou Camp in November 2014. Negotiations did not go as planned and he ended up joining Real Madrid just two months later, but La Blaugrana have kept a close eye on him.
Barcelona have successfully lured club captains Thierry Henry and Cesc Fabregas from Arsenal in the past, leading to apprehension from the Premier League side over their interest. They will look to hand the Norwegian midfielder a new contract as he remains a valuable star to Mikel Arteta's system at the club.
Arsenal star beats Barcelona's Yamal, Moukoko to UEFA Champions League record
Arsenal midfielder Max Dowman has beat Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal and ex-Borussia Dortmund star Youssoufa Moukoko to a UEFA Champions League record. The 15-year-old was a second half substitute for Mikel Arteta's side as they claimed a 3-0 win over Slavia Prague on Tuesday.
Aged 15 years and 308 days old, Dowman became the youngest player and first 15-year-old to appear in Europe's premier club competition. The youngster came off the bench in the 73rd minute, replacing Leandro Trossard for the final 17 minutes of the game.
Yamal was 16 years and 68 days old when he first appeared in the competition against Royal Antwerp in 2023, and Moukoko was 50 days younger when he debuted in 2020. Celestine Babayaro, Rayan Cherki, Alen Halilovic, Youri Tielemans, Francesco Camarda, Warren Zaire-Emery, and Charalampos Mavrias are other players to have played in the competition aged 16.