Real Madrid's plans for a summer rebuild could be fantastic news for Arsenal.
It won't be easy to overhaul the first-team squad, but two names who have been heavily linked with moves to the Santiago Bernabeu are Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe and Borussia Dortmund wonderkid Erling Haaland.
However, due to the financial impacts of COVID-19 and financial fair play rules money is very tight for Los Blancos who would have to stump a fee of well over £100m to secure a deal for at least one this summer.
And Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has done his best to play down such rumours when speaking after his side beat Atalanta to reach the Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday night.
"For the moment, we have Karim Benzema," Zidane said, as per RMC Sport. "And we take advantage of Karim Benzema."
Whilst that response may cool talk of either Haaland or Mbappe joining Madrid for a couple of days, Zidane did something former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger used to do right before concluding a deal.
Smile after answering a transfer-related question.
Described as Wenger's 'transfer grin' by some Gunners fans, the Frenchman did this before concluding deals for the likes of Santi Cazorla, Mesut Ozil, and Alexis Sanchez.
This was after, in Cazorla's case, denying knowing who the midfielder was and playing down moves for the latter duo.
Has Zidane picked up on that trick?
If so, and one of Haaland or Mbappe do make the move to the Spanish capital this summer then it could be fantastic news for Arsenal.
If Arsenal were able to secure a permanent deal for Odegaard then it could go a long way to helping Real Madrid fund a move for Haaland or Mbappe this summer.
Or it could mean Madrid would be more open to selling the Norweigan as they would need to get players off the wage bill.
And in a potential financial boost for the Gunners, according to transfermarkt's valuations, a deal for Odegaard may not be too expensive as he is valued at £36m, which might be within Arsenal's budget and that could help Madrid seal a deal for Haaland or Mbappe.
