Arsenal may look to make a significant sale over the next 12 months to balance their books, and Martin Odegaard could be a surprise candidate for this.
After back-to-back Player of the Year awards at the Emirates, Odegaard struggled in the 2024/25 season for the Gunners.
Scoring just three Premier League goals all season, the Norwegian didn’t look at his best after returning from a significant ankle injury in November.
A summer of rest and recuperation, as well as a full pre-season, should give the Arsenal captain a new lease of life heading into the 2025/26 campaign.
Martin Odegaard had interest from the MLS this summer
Arsenal sold the likes of Aaron Ramsdale, Eddie Nketiah and Emile Smith Rowe for substantial fees last summer.
However, the Gunners are yet to sanction the departure of a staple figure in Mikel Arteta’s project, not bringing in over £40 million for a single player.
If Arsenal are to continue spending at a rapid rate to bolster their ranks, then they may need to sell someone of significance at some point in the near future.
According to journalist Ben Jacobs, Odegaard could have been the one to go for significant money this summer.
However, the 26-year-old was uninterested in approaches from Saudi Arabia and the United States, as he still feels he can offer a lot at the highest level.
“I can tell you since 2023, the Saudi side have been pushing for these kinds of players,” Jacobs told the Market Madness podcast.
“So if Saudi can get Martin Odegaard at any point this year, next year, before he’s 35 years of age, he is a player of interest for sure. I don’t think Arsenal will entertain anything now.
“There’s also been interest in Odegaard from the MLS, specifically this summer, partially because clubs realise this is the build-up to the World Cup and a good time to approach players.
“Naturally, Odegaard knows he can still play at the top level, so he’s not entertained MLS or Saudi.”
The 2025/26 season is huge for Martin Odegaard
Odegaard praised Max Dowman earlier this week after the teenager enjoyed an exceptional cameo appearance against Newcastle.
The starlet, alongside Ethan Nwaneri, will be pushing Odegaard next campaign, looking to usurp the Norway international in Arteta’s pecking order.
With this added competition, it’s essential for Odegaard’s future that he returns to the levels he produced in the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons.
| Martin Odegaard’s Premier League Statistics | |||
| Stat | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
| Appearances | 37 | 35 | 30 |
| Goals | 15 | 8 | 3 |
| Assists | 7 | 10 | 8 |
| Shots per 90 | 2.68 | 2.18 | 1.86 |
| Expected Goals per 90 | 0.29 | 0.22 | 0.19 |
| Key Passes per 90 | 2.19 | 2.97 | 2.44 |
| Expected Assists per 90 | 0.23 | 0.33 | 0.26 |
| Progressive Passes per 90 | 7.67 | 10 | 10 |
If he doesn’t, question marks will start to be asked about the player’s long-term future in N5.
While he remains crucial to Arsenal’s press and their ball progression, Odegaard needs to start influencing proceedings in the final third once again.
His output needs to improve, otherwise, he’ll be in serious trouble as two outstanding talents emerge from underneath him.
from Arsenal Transfer News | Rumours, Deals & Targets | Arsenal Insider
Alfie Cairns Culshaw