Martin Odegaard at Stansted Airport(Image: Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Arsenal take immediate Martin Odegaard injury action as Mikel Arteta eyes shock £84m transfer

Arsenal appear to have already found a potential replacement for Martin Odegaard following the midfielder's injury during the international break

10 Sep 2024, 16:00 by Jake Stokes · football.london

Arsenal have wasted no time in trying to solve an impending midfield crisis. Mikel Arteta could be without Mikel Merino, Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard when the Gunners lock horns with Tottenham Hotspur in the North London Derby this weekend.

Mikel Merino suffered a shoulder injury in his first training session at London Colney after signing from Real Sociedad. Just before the international break, Declan Rice was shown a second yellow card in the Gunners' 1-1 draw with Brighton, meaning he's ruled out due to suspension.

Then, on Monday night, Martin Odegaard picked up a knock during a Nations League clash against Austria. While fighting for possession with Christoph Baumgartner, the 25-year-old midfielder appeared to sprain his ankle – until his scan results are revealed, he's a doubt for the bout.

Unless Arsenal delve into the free agent market, Arteta won't be able to welcome any new faces to the Emirates Stadium until January. With that being said, though, that hasn't stopped the Gunners from lining up their first signing of the upcoming window.

According to CaughtOffiside, Arsenal are 'seriously interested' in signing Javi Guerra from Valencia. The 21-year-old midfielder was heavily linked with a move to Atletico Madrid in the summer before Diego Simeone got his hands on Conor Gallagher.

The report states that Aston Villa are also keen on the Spain Under-21 international, who has a €100m (£84.3m) release clause in his contract at the Mestalla Stadium. Guerra, who sees his contract expire in June 2027, has featured four times for Valencia in La Liga this season, though the last two were cameos off the bench.

CaughtOffiside add that, while he has an eye-watering release clause, Los Ches are currently considering selling him for less than €30m (£25.3m) in the 'near future'. Last month, the Valencia sporting director revealed why Guerra's move to Atletico Madrid collapsed.

"Atlético de Madrid replied that they were trying to pull out of the Gallagher transaction with Chelsea, and if that didn't happen they were not going to be able to do the deal for Javi Guerra," said Miguel Angel Corona, during the club's unveiling of Dani Gómez.

"It was the first time we were made aware of that. So we decided to bow out because that was not a condition that was discussed, despite all the calls, WhatsApps, emails, legal counsel and contract terms. We weren't informed about that situation so obviously, for our benefit and to protect Javi, we bowed out."

Guerra was linked with a move to Manchester United last year until Corona issued a hands-off warning. Speaking to the Daily Mail, the Valencia chief said: "We are fully aware that we have a player with enormous potential for the future and the ability to perform at a good level now.

"That is why the club have decisively moved him up to the first team in recent months. It is not in our plans to sell him to any club. Our future plans involve continuing to give him the appropriate condition so that he is able to develop his full potential under Ruben Baraja, become an important player and continue to build a Valencia team of the immediate future around players like him.

"For us, the emergence of Javi Guerra has not been a surprise. We have been aware of what he is capable of for a long time, we have been helping him and demanding more from him every step of the way, from youth level to the elite.

"He has to continue working in this way. We have to be cautious when making assessments about his level or how far he will be able to go, as he is a young player and has a long way ahead of him, but only he, with his day-to-day work, will determine where his limit is."

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