Martin Odegaard's potential Arsenal return could be back on.
The midfielder spent the second half of the 2020/21 campaign with the Gunners scoring two goals in 20 appearances across all competitions and was tipped for a return this summer.
With Arsenal once again in the market for a creative midfielder to ease the workload on Emile Smith Rowe, Odegaard had been earmarked alongside Emiliano Buendia before the transfer window officially opened last month.
However, with the latter joining Aston Villa, the Gunners appeared to have suffered another blow when the Norway international took to social media to all but confirm he would be staying at Real Madrid.
"@Arsenal, Thank you so much for these 6 months," he wrote on Instagram. "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."
However, Odegaard might be forced to perform a U-turn with regards to his Real Madrid future.
As reported by The Athletic, La Liga will reduce Real Madrid's wage budget meaning some high earners must leave.
As a result, Odegaard along with Raphael Varane and Isco - also linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium - are among those said to be available for a transfer this summer.
This development is certainly a boost for Arsenal, but it's clear that Odegaard would only be interested in a permanent transfer if he was to return to north London.
"Going out on loan is not ideal," he told reporters. "What I'm looking for is stability in a team."
With an estimated transfer value of €30m-€40m (£25m-(£34m) as per the CIES Football Observatory, Odegaard could be a cheaper alternative to Leicester City's James Maddison who could cost £60m.
But by being patient Mikel Arteta and Edu's options for the number 10 role appear to have doubled thanks to Real Madrid's financial situation.
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