Real Madrid want €80m for Martin Odegaard as Mikel Arteta admits the immediate priority is to maximise the player’s output during the initial loan spell, leaving discussions over what’s next for the summer.

Arsenal deals: Arsenal's Norwegian midfielder Martin Odegaard (L) gets instructions from Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta (R) as he comes on as a substitute during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium in London on January 30, 2021. (Photo by Shaun Botterill / POOL / AFP)
Arsenal’s Norwegian midfielder Martin Odegaard (L) gets instructions from Arsenal’s Spanish manager Mikel Arteta (R) as he comes on as a substitute during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium in London on January 30, 2021. (Photo by Shaun Botterill / POOL / AFP)

It was always going to be tough to strike a deal for Martin Odegaard with Real Madrid. They are insisting they don’t want to sell but with two years left on his Real Madrid contract at the end of his loan spell with Arsenal, a decision will need to be made.

That, it seems, is to ask €80m (£69) for the player who is valued at around £36m. An agrement in the region of £50m would seem to be what’s needed, then, to get a deal done, unless Real Madrid refuse to negotiate. Given they paid £2.52m for Odegaard, £50m would hardly represent bad business.

It’s still early days for Martin Odegaard’s loan spell at Arsenal, but he’s already giving the fans reasons to want him joining on a permanent deal.

In the first start of his loan spell, Odegaard was part of one of the team’s best performances of the season. For at least the first 55 minutes against Leeds United, it was a very positive and exciting display.

Despite the somewhat-disappointing draw with Benfica in Rome, and the expected defeat against City, Odegaard showed moments of quality again. The fact the 22-year-old has broken into Arsenal’s best side so quickly is clear evidence of his ability.

Mikel Arteta insists Arsenal are solely focusing on getting the best out of him for now. Any talks over a permanent transfer will take place later, and the situation won’t be entirely in Arsenal’s hands, as we can see.

“We have Martin for a few months from Real Madrid and first of all, we have to maximise this time with him to try to bring to the team all the qualities he has,” Arteta said.

“At the end of the season, we will sit together and decide where we can take that relationship forward. At the moment it doesn’t just depend on us.”

Reports suggest Odegaard pushed for the move in the first place, and Real Madrid could be open to selling a number of players this summer to raise funds.

But all the talk coming out of the Spanish media until this piece suggests Real Madrid are unwilling to give the midfielder up for good, so Arsenal have a job on their hands.