The Gunners have set sights on the Dynamo Zagreb winger Mislav Orsic for a permanent. The 28-year-old is being eyed as an alternative for Real Madrid loanee Martin Odegaard.
The Gunners have been in the news in the past few weeks regarding signing Norwegian midfielder Martin Odegaard on a permanent deal once his loan deal with Mikel Arteta’s side expires on June 30, 2021. Real Madrid are reportedly looking to bring him back at the Santiago Bernabeu after several loan tenures at clubs across Europe.
Zinedine Zidane’s interest in including Odegaard in his plans for the next season means that Mikel Arteta has to look elsewhere, thus bringing in Mislav Orsic in the picture.
Arsenal’s creative playmaker options in the middle – like Willian and Nicholas Pepe – have not been at their best form throughout the 2020/21 season, resulting in a below-par performance so far from the Gunners in the league season after a promising start.
Mislav Orsic scored a hat-trick against Tottenham Hotspur in the UEFA Europa League in the Round of 16 tie last week to send Jose Mourinho’s side packing. His exploits against Arsenal’s bitter rivals have made him an instant favourite across the red section of the capital.
Orsic joined Zagreb after a spell at Ulsan Hyundai in South Korea and has established himself at the club ever since. The attacker has been consistently good for the Croatian side, scoring 53 goals in 123 competitive matches. Orsic currently has four more years left on his contract in Zagreb.
The Croatian could add fluidity in the midfield, given he can play as a winger and also as a central playmaker. His presence in the midfield can possibly provide support to Arteta’s attacking line-up, which includes the likes of Nicolas Pepe, Willian, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Emile Smith Rowe and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
