Arsenal are reportedly ready to move for Nabil Fekir or Emiliano Buendia if their attempts to sign Martin Odegaard from Real Madrid permanently prove unsuccessful.
Odegaard adapted to the Premier League straight away after arriving on loan in January, and the Gunners are unsurprisingly being tipped to sign the Norway captain on a permanent basis this summer.
However, Real Madrid are supposedly reluctant to let Odegaard leave as they view him as an integral part of their future, and with the playmaker's reported £300m release clause also proving problematic, alternatives will be sought if they cannot come to an agreement with Los Blancos.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano claims that the Gunners are monitoring two possible alternatives, telling the Here We Go Podcast: "Fekir is one of the players that Arsenal appreciate, as is Buendia. But the priority is to try for Odegaard."
Fekir is understood to possess a £77m release clause in his Real Betis contract, but the 27-year-old could reportedly be available for a cut-price figure of £26m this summer, while Norwich City would demand a fee around the £40m mark for Buendia.
However, keeping Odegaard on the books is thought to be Arsenal's priority, but the Gunners will supposedly wait until the summer to discuss his future with Real Madrid.
Ben Knapton
