Martin Odegaard has admitted he hopes to remain at Arsenal beyond his current deal, but Bayern Munich are waiting in the wings as contract talks have yet to begin. The Norwegian midfielder is entering the final 18 months of his contract, and reports from Sky in Germany suggest the Gunners are aware they may have to sell if an agreement is not reached soon.
Odegaard's Contract Situation
Odegaard, who has been at the Emirates for the bulk of Mikel Arteta's reign, has confessed there is no date set for the two parties to sit down and discuss an extension. He said: "I'm happy and hope I can stay there [at Arsenal] for a long time to come, but we haven't started on that yet."
The former Real Madrid man has been among Arsenal's outstanding performers this season, reigniting the form of several years ago and making the team tick in the opening weeks. His quality has seen admirers circle, with Bayern among those keen on having him if Arsenal did want to move on from Odegaard.
Competition and Form
Since Odegaard arrived at Arsenal, the team have gone from top four challengers to a European powerhouse. Now Premier League champions, the Gunners boast a squad that also includes Kai Havertz, Bruno Guimaraes, Eberechi Eze and the blossoming Max Dowman, leading to an increase in competition.
Arteta has shown a ruthless side when it comes to selection and moving players on. He praised Odegaard for his early season form but confessed that the Norwegian needs to ensure he is fit, first and foremost. "First of all, he needs to be available," he said. "And last year he missed so many games through injuries. He's got that edge and he's got different relationships around him as well. That helps."
Season Stats and Future
Odegaard has started all ten of Arsenal's Premier League games, and his five goals in all competitions is more than any of his teammates. Arsenal ultimately do not want to lose Odegaard on a free, and that scenario could come to pass if a deal has not been agreed soon.
