Chelsea join Arsenal in the race to sign £42.5m midfield star

Transfer News: Chelsea, Liverpool join Arsenal in Martin Odegaard chase

According to transfer news from Fichajes (h/t Football.london), Chelsea have registered an interest in signing Real Madrid midfielder Martin Odegaard, who is also wanted by Arsenal and Liverpool.

Odegaard has been with Real Madrid since 2015, having arrived as a promising teenager from his homeland, Norway. Six years later, the playmaker has found it hard to nail down a place in the lineup at the Bernabeu despite having impressed away on multiple loan spells.

Having failed to get into the side under Zinedine Zidane last term, Odegaard spent the second half of the season at Chelsea’s London rivals Arsenal and enjoyed a decent spell in which he featured 20 times, getting directly involved in four goals.

Back at Real Madrid, the Norwegian international could be on the move once again this summer, with the Merengues setting an asking price of £42.5m. Arsenal are interested in re-signing him this summer owing to their No. 10 problems. But Chelsea have also now entered the fray to land the 22-year-old attacking midfielder along with Liverpool. (h/t Football.london)

The report does, however, add that Chelsea would only move for the Norwegian international in case Moroccan playmaker Hakim Ziyech leaves the Bridge after enduring a difficult debut season following his arrival from AFC Ajax last summer.

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As talented as Odegaard is, Chelsea just do not have the room to accommodate him in the squad currently.

Thomas Tuchel already has Mason Mount, Ziyech, Kai Havertz, Christian Pulisic and Callum Hudson-Odoi vying for the two attacking midfield slots in the 3-4-2-1, while Ross Barkley and Ruben Loftus-Cheek would also be options if they stay at the club. So, this is pretty much a no-go as things stand, unless something drastic happens.