Arsenal is monitoring Nabil Fekir as a possible alternative to Martin Odegaard this summer.
Fekir stays in the radar field of view
The Gunners were longtime admirers of the French international and had an interest in it before moving from Lyon to Real Betis in 2019. Fekir has spent the last two years in Spain and remains on Arsenal’s radars, which will aim to bring in another attacking midfielder in the summer. Arsenal’s main goal at the end of the season will be to try to find a way to keep Odegaard, who should return to Real as soon as his loan deal expires.
The North London club has no clause in the deal that would allow them to take Norway’s international move, but permanent, but agreed with Madrid to discuss the situation in the summer. Ideally, Arsenal would like to sign the 23-year-old on a permanent basis, but at the moment it is unclear if Madrid will be open to this or if Arsenal will have the funds at all to close the deal. Another season loan could be an option, but Goal can confirm that Arsenal is looking at Fekir as an alternative and has been following him during his time with Betis in Spain.
The 27-year-old has two years remaining on his contract at Betis and has a £77 million waiver clause ($106 million). This is not a figure Arsenal would have come anywhere close, however, and not what the Spanish club would have demanded. Betis is due to sell some players this summer due to the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic, and Target has learned they would be looking for around £26 million ($36 million) to part with Fekir, who recently switched substances ahead of a potential move this summer.
After failing to land at Liverpool in 2018, Fekir eventually left Lyon to join Betis the following summer. He finished his first season in Spain with seven goals and four assists from 31 appearances and three times so far this season in all competitions, adding five more assists for Manuel Pellegrini’s side.