- Martin Odegaard joined Arsenal on loan in 2021 before signing permanently
- The Gunners are one of several teams to have contacted the star’s entourage
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Arsenal have opened talks with out-of-favour Real Madrid star Arda Guler, according to reports in Spain.
The Gunners, who sit nine points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool in the title race, have reportedly contacted the Turkish youngster’s entourage with the view of signing him on loan.
Former Fenerbahce star Guler arrived at the Bernabeu in 2023 as one of Europe’s most talented teenagers, but it hasn’t quite worked out for the 19-year-old as he has struggled to break into Carlo Ancelotti’s first team.
This campaign alone, Guler has only started three matches across all competitions, used predominantly as a late substitute in matches for Madrid.
The starlet has also failed to register a single goal contribution from his 12 appearances so far, despite performing well for Turkey on international duty.
According to Spanish outlet Sport, Guler is unhappy at Real Madrid and on the radar of several top clubs across Europe.
Arsenal have reportedly opened talks with out-of-favour Real Madrid star Arda Guler (above)
The 19-year-old has struggled to break into Carlo Ancelotti’s first team since arriving in 2023
The north London club view Guler’s situation as a ‘similar case’ to captain Martin Odegaard
It is claimed the Gunners are one of the teams to have contacted Guler’s representatives over his situation, keen to secure his talents first on loan before signing him permanently at a later date.
This is the strategy Arsenal employed when recruiting club captain Martin Odegaard from Real Madrid in 2021, and Sport claims the north London outfit see Guler’s situation as a similar case to that of the Norwegian.
Odegaard, who also arrived in the Spanish capital with bags of potential, struggled for game time just like Guler, frequently loaned out to clubs including Heerenveen, Vitesse and Real Sociedad before joining the Gunners.
The 25-year-old playmaker has since been one of the biggest success stories at the Emirates in terms of recruitment, given Arsenal paid a respectable transfer fee of just £30million after his initial loan spell — £12.5m lower than his market value.
Although Guler is ‘unhappy’ at the Bernabeu, the Spanish newspaper claims he has not given up on his Real Madrid future yet and wants to succeed at the club.
Should the Gunners make a move for the Turkish midfielder in January, they will do so without sporting director Edu, who is on six months of gardening leave following his shock exit from the club earlier this month.
Edu, who joined Arsenal in July 2019, has been credited with assembling a team of title challengers in terms of his recruitment, helping Mikel Arteta forge a squad capable of going toe to toe with perennial Premier League champions Man City.
Jason Ayto has stepped up to replace Edu on an interim basis while the Gunners search for a successor.
It is claimed Guler, pictured alongside Real Madrid’s substitutes, is ‘unhappy’ at the Bernabeu
Odegaard joined Real Madrid with plenty of promise but struggled for first team opportunities
The Norwegian has since become an integral part of Mikel Arteta’s title-challenging team
Arsenal’s title bid has taken several blows already this campaign, with four draws and two defeats from their opening 11 matches of the season.
While sitting three wins behind Liverpool, Arteta’s side also currently sit four points behind second-placed outfit Manchester City, who were able to extend Pep Guardiola’s contract by an additional year on Tuesday evening.
