Liverpool could do with more creativity and attacking impetus from midfield and so would regret allowing Arsenal to sign Martin Odegaard unchallenged.
The 22-year-old forward, valued at €40million by Transfermarkt, would be fantastic for Liverpool and is the type of player that the Reds haven’t had since Philippe Coutinho left the club in 2018.
It does make you wonder what might have been had the he accepted Liverpool’s offer when he was 16 with it arguable that he wasted some of the most fundamental years of his career at a club that couldn’t give him the game time necessary to develop.
LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 03: Martin Odegaard of Arsenal and Liverpool Manager Jurgen Klopp chat after the Premier League match between Arsenal and Liverpool at Emirates Stadium on April 03, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)
At Liverpool, he would have received far more opportunities and while he is maturing into a fine player capable of bossing the tempo in Premier League games, he could be further along in his career progression had he not rejected the Reds.
That’s not to say that Liverpool are better at developing talent but at the time he moved to Madrid, they were at their peak with the likes of Modric and Isco blocking his path to a starting role.
Odegaard is yet to agree to a permanent move to Arsenal and so there’s a chance that Liverpool could poach him.
Odegaard has shown already that he’s up to the Premier League standard and his clever passing and ability to find pockets of space in midfield is something that both Liverpool and Arsenal need.
LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 14: Martin Odegaard of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium on March 14, 2021 in London, England.
(Photo by Chloe Knott – Danehouse/Getty Images)
I believe that Liverpool would regret allowing Arsenal to sign the Norwegian unchallenged.
At Anfield, he’d have much better forwards in front of him which would allow him to get more than the once assist he got in 14 games for Mikel Arteta’s side.
According to Squawka, he created 20 chances for the Gunners in just 496 minutes and was rewarded with just one assist which is awful but reflects the lack of quality in front of him at the Emirate.
At Liverpool, he’d have Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota – not to mention whoever Klopp signs this summer.
