- Arsenal keen on Real Madrid youngster Arda Guler according to reports in Spain
- Gunners eyeing Martin Odegaard-style transfer for Turkish sensation
- Odegaard now Arsenal's club captain after struggling to break through at the Bernabeu
Arsenal are keen on signing Real Madrid youngster Arda Guler and see parallels between the Turkey international and current club captain Martin Odegaard, according to a report.
Guler is seen as the current face and future of Turkish football, having joined Los Blancos in 2023 after breaking through with Fenerbahce in his homeland.
However, the 19-year-old has appeared unsettled for much of his stay at the Bernabeu, struggling for regular starts in Madrid's star-studded XI as manager Carlo Ancelotti looks to ease him into the side over time.
The teenager has been linked with moves away from the Spanish and European champions and, according to SPORT, Arsenal are keeping tabs on the situation as they believe it is not dissimilar to their capture of Norwegian superstar Odegaard.
The 25-year-old went viral for his displays for Stromsgodset, making his debut for the Eliteserien at just 15, before moving to Madrid in 2015. Mainly playing for their Castilla side, Odegaard spent time on loan at Heerenveen, Vitesse and Real Sociedad in the late 2010s but never truly broke through in Spain before joining the Gunners temporarily in 2021.
The midfielder has since become one of Mikel Arteta's most important players as they challenge for the Premier League title and look to improve in Europe.
While the reports adds that Guler remains driven by succeeding with Madrid, the option of joining Arsenal and getting more game time in a team competing at the top of English football is one that will likely appeal to the Turkey international. Given he still has a contract which runs until 2029, the north Londoners are not expected to make an imminent play to sign Guler in the near future.
However, if Guler continues to struggle for minutes under Ancelotti at Madrid, Arteta's side could be well placed to pursue a deal.
