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Arsenal eye Odegaard repeat with €50m Real Madrid wonderkid raid
Tom Weber
- Updated: 20 Jan 2026 16:11 GMT
- 4 min read
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Arsenal continue to keenly monitor the development of Real Madrid youngster Victor Valdepenas, according to various reports.
The Gunners have shifted their transfer strategy after a massive summer window. Having signed a host of first-team-ready players, Arsenal are now building for the future.
The North London giants are targeting several promising talents from around the world, and Valdepenas is a player who has been on their shortlist for some time. Last spring, links to the 19-year-old first emerged.
In late 2025, Fabrizio Romano confirmed Arsenal's interest, but Real Madrid moved swiftly to try and nip the speculation in the bud. Following his senior debut against Alaves, Los Blancos handed the teenager a pay rise and a new €50 million release clause.
Despite this, Valdepenas' future is now once again becoming a topic of discussion. Both Romano and Florian Plettenberg report that Arsenal continue to follow the defender's development closely.
Valdepenas to leave Real Madrid?
The fresh reporting on Valdepenas likely stems from the fact that he hasn't played for the first team since that game against Alaves in December, in which he impressed then-manager Xabi Alonso while playing out of position at left-back.
With his former Castilla boss Alvaro Arbeloa now in charge of the first team, Valdepenas may have hoped for more opportunities, but he has yet to make a matchday squad under the new coach.
The 19-year-old could therefore start considering his options should the situation not change in the next few months. Arsenal previously signed Martin Odegaard after he failed to break through at Real Madrid, while they have also been keeping tabs on Arda Guler's situation.
With Oleksandr Zinchenko on his way to Ajax - now on a permanent deal rather than the initially reported loan - there could be a spot for a new left-sided defender in Mikel Arteta's squad, despite the wealth of options already at his disposal.
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