Arsenal linked with bargain Bundesliga midfielder if loan deal can’t be made permanent

Talk has continued this week around the future of Arsenal, with a large section of the club’s fanbase still calling for its owners to leave the club in the wake of the European Super League fallout.

Spotify co-founder Daniel Ek has spoken openly of his desire to purchase the club, and is reportedly in the process of making an offer to current owner Stan Kroenke.

On the pitch, Mikel Arteta’s side face a crucial match against Spanish side Villarreal on Thursday evening in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final.

Arteta is expected to make a number of changes to the side that lost 1-0 at home to Everton on Friday, with Martin Odegaard one of the players expected to return to the starting lineup.

The Real Madrid loanee has impressed since arriving in North London, and fans have called for the club to do everything in their power to make the deal permanent.

However, with the Spanish side reportedly reluctant to let Odegaard leave for good, it appears that Arsenal are making plans to replace the Norway international next season.

According to BILD, Arsenal are eyeing a move for Borussia Dortmund midfielder Julian Brandt, with the Bundesliga side willing to let him go for a cut-price £17.5 million.

Brandt has scored 10 times in 82 games for Dortmund.

The German outlet reports that Brandt, who has struggled to maintain a place in the first team this term, could be allowed to depart in the summer for around £4 million less than Dortmund signed him for just two years ago.

Brandt has started just 16 league games so far this campaign, and it rumoured to be keen on an exit.

Bild reports that the Premier League side are ‘digging hard’ for the 24-year-old, and hope to finalise a deal this summer.

Dortmund are reportedly experiencing financial trouble caused by a loss in revenue, and could be forced into selling a number of their star players this summer, including Jadon Sancho and Erling Braut Haaland.

With Arsenal still prioritising a permanent move for Odegaard, it may be that a deal for Brandt is put on the back burner until the window opens in June.