Arsenal have not given up on signing Martin Odegaard amid reports that the midfielder could still leave Real Madrid this summer, football.london understands.
The 22-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan with the Gunners, but confirmed that he would be staying at Real Madrid in the forthcoming campaign after Carlo Ancelotti was appointed as manager.
Odegaard is keen on fighting for his place at the Bernabeu but there is belief that he is open to returning to North London, with Los Blancos happy to listen to offers for the Norway international.
"@Arsenal, Thank you so much for these 6 months," he wrote on Instagram in a statement after his loan spell ended.
"My time with the Arsenal family will always hold a special place in my heart.
"I wanna [sic] thank everyone in and around the club for the way you made me feel like a part of the family since the first day.
"Special thanks to the fans, even without you guys at the stadium for the majority of the season, I felt you with me at all times.
"A huge thank you to the boss and his staff for everything I’ve learned during my stay. Thank you also to all my teammates for such a great time on and off the pitch.
"Will miss you all. Thank you, gunners family. Always in my heart."
football.london revealed last month that Leicester midfielder James Maddison is at the 'top of the list' for manager Mikel Arteta, although the £60million asking price is likely to prove a sticking point until player sales are made.
There has been no formal approach for Maddison but it's understood that Arsenal have sounded out the possibility of signing the 24-year-old through intermediaries.
Meanwhile the Gunners are also expected to loan out a number of youngsters over the coming weeks, with George Lewis, Ben Cottrell and Tim Akinola among eight youngsters available for spells away from the club.
Do you want an exclusive pre-season Arsenal preview - both in your inbox and through your letterbox? Head over here to find out more and secure your copy!
