Arsenal can sign dream Martin Odegaard teammate to unleash Bukayo Saka with £84m transfer

Mikel Arteta could finally truly unleash Bukayo Saka by signing another of Martin Odegaard’s former teammates. The Arsenal captain signed for Real Madrid in 2015 and spent one season on loan at Real Sociedad in 2019-20, now five seasons on, he could be reunited with two former teammates and one other star during the upcoming summer transfer widow.

Martin Zubimendi looks set to be one of those with an agreement in principle already reached for him to join from the Spanish club. Assuming his £51million release clause is paid, he will become the third Sociedad player to also represent Arsenal.

Mikel Merino is one other after he joined from the La Liga outfit last summer with his first season in north London mixed to say the least. He began as part of Arteta’s three-man midfield before an injury crisis up front saw him deployed as the striker with an impressive 11 goal contributions following in the next 17 games.

Despite that, Arsenal still need to sign a elite-level striker with Alexander Isak, another former Sociedad player, one of the options. Newcastle’s asking price could see him stay put, but there are alternatives at a cheaper price.

Sporting CP’S Viktor Gyokeres is one of those and signing him for a fee in the region of £70million could allow Arsenal to make other additions. football.london understands that the club also want to sign a wide forward, defender and back-up goalkeeper.

Real Madrid star Rodrygo has emerged as one possible signing in attack despite the Brazilian rubbishing claims he is seeking an exit from the Spanish capital. As he did with Merino and Zubimendi, Odegaard also played alongside Rodrygo when he was at Madrid.

A reunion in England is certainly plausible and what it could do for Arsenal is potentially huge. That marquee signing, which will likely cost £84million (€100m), could finally be what delivers those big trophies as the potential impact on Saka could be significant.

The 23-year-old has been forced to carry the creative burden but the addition of Rodryo help matters. Not only would he have someone that can finish the chances he creates, but the 24-year-old can also do that and as such, Saka could instead get on the end of those opportunities.

Saka and Rodrygo either side of someone like Gyokeres is a frightening front three with former Premier League goalkeeper Paul Robinson believing as such.

“He is a wide player – they need a number nine, but if you sign him and a number nine, that’s a real statement,” he told Football Insider.

“What it would cost you to get Rodrygo, and would he want to go to Arsenal, is two different things. The need for a number nine is pressing.

“[Bukayo] Saka will play on the right-hand side, Rodrygo can play on the left – if you have those two as a wide pairing, that’s one hell of a pairing to fit in behind a world-class number nine.”