According to reports, PSG are considering Arsenal midfielder Martin Odegaard as a potential replacement for World Cup winner Lionel Messi.

The Gunners signed Odegaard on a permanent basis in 2021 following his brief loan spell at the Emirates. The fee for him could reach around £35m including add-ons.

Some questioned Arsenal’s decision to buy Odegaard from Real Madrid, but he has proven to be an outstanding signing for the Premier League giants.

Odegaard became Arsenal’s new captain ahead of this season and this has been the making of the 24-year-old. He has been one of the best players in the Premier League this term as he has grabbed 15 goals and seven assists in the league.

The Norway international is under contract until 2025 and The Evening Standard claimed earlier this week that he is ‘in line for a new deal as the club are looking to secure his long-term future’.

But Spanish outlet Fichajes are reporting that ‘PSG want to break the market with the signing of Odegaard’.

The Arsenal standout has ’emerged as an attractive option’ for PSG as they are ‘evaluating options’ ahead of this summer.

‘The possible departure of Odegaard worries Arsenal’ as it is rightly believed that his departure would be a ‘heavy blow’ and it ‘would force the club to look for a quality replacement’.

A separate report from Nacional claims Odegaard has received ‘two proposals’ and ‘the first comes from PSG’.

Odegaard is apparently considered a leading contender to ‘replace Messi’, who is set to leave the French giants this summer when his contract expires.

PSG ‘can even offer more than 65 million euros for him’ but Bayern Munich have ‘also appeared in the auction’. The report adds.

‘Thomas Tuchel is convinced that he would be an excellent reinforcement and that it is worth paying whatever is necessary to open the exit doors for him at the Emirates Stadium.’

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Man Utd legend Gary Neville has boldly argued that Odegaard is one player who has “contributed to the difficulties” Arsenal have faced in recent weeks.

“I look at Martin Odegaard, fantastic professional. Oleksandr Zinchenko, great professional. But when you actually get to the highest pressurised moments in the biggest matches in the crux of the season, are they leaders then?” Neville said on The Overlap.

“Arsenal’s senior players, Partey, Zinchenko, Odegaard, in the most difficult period – when those younger players like Saka and Martinelli needed that guidance, Jesus needed telling to stop running around and just stand up front and be really disciplined in how you play – they didn’t impact the rest of their teammates on the pitch, I don’t believe. In fact, they contributed to the difficulties they were having in the matches.

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