Arsenal ‘contact unhappy Real Madrid star over potential loan move’ – and view him as a ‘similar case to Martin Odegaard’ who has flourished since leaving the Bernabeu
- Martin Odegaard spent 2021 on loan at Arsenal before signing permanently
- The Gunners are one of several teams to have contacted the star’s entourage
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According to reports in Spain, Arsenal have started talks with out-of-favour Real Madrid star Arda Guler.
The Gunners, who are nine points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool in the title race, have reportedly contacted the Turkish youngster’s entourage with a view to signing him on loan.
Former Fenerbahce star Guler arrived at the Bernabeu in 2023 as one of Europe’s most talented teenagers, but things haven’t quite worked out for the 19-year-old as he struggled to break into Carlo Ancelotti’s first team.
This campaign alone, Guler has started just three games in all competitions, mainly being used as a late substitute in games for Madrid.
The star has also failed to score a single goal in his 12 appearances so far, despite performing well for Turkey internationally.
According to Spanish outlet SportGuler is unhappy at Real Madrid and is on the radar of several top clubs across Europe.
Arsenal have reportedly opened talks with out-of-favor 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 considers Guler’s situation to be a ‘similar case’ to captain Martin Odegaard
It is claimed that the Gunners are among the teams that have contacted Guler’s representatives about his situation. They want to have his talents loaned out 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 sees Guler’s situation as a similar case to the Norwegian’s.
Odegaard, who also arrived in the Spanish capital with plenty of potential, struggled for playing time like Guler and was regularly loaned out to clubs such as Heerenveen, Vitesse and Real Sociedad before joining the Gunners.
The 25-year-old playmaker has since become one of the Emirates’ biggest recruitment success stories, with Arsenal paying a respectable transfer fee of just £30m after his first 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 future at Real Madrid 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’ gardening leave following his shock departure from the club earlier this month.
Guler, pictured alongside Real Madrid substitutes, is said to be ‘unhappy’ at the Bernabéu
Odegaard came to Real Madrid with promise, but struggled to find opportunities in the first team
The Norwegian has since become an integral part of Mikel Arteta’s title-challenging team
Edu, who joined Arsenal in July 2019, has assembled a team of title challengers during his recruitment, helping Mikel Arteta build a squad capable of taking on perennial Premier League champions Man City.
Jason Ayto replaces Edu on an interim basis as the Gunners look for a successor.
Arsenal’s title bid has already suffered several blows this season, with four draws and two defeats in the opening eleven games of the season.
Although Arteta’s team is three wins behind Liverpool, they are currently four points behind second-placed Manchester City, which was able to extend Pep Guardiola’s contract for a year on Tuesday evening.
