New Odegaard? SHOCK Premier League side offers Guler Real Madrid escape route

Tom Weber

• Updated: 20 Apr 2024 17:51 BST
• 4 min read

Mesut Ozil has suggested that Arda Guler could follow in Martin Odegaard's footsteps.

The erstwhile Norwegian wonderkid signed for Real Madrid at a very young age but ultimately failed to break through at the Santiago Bernabeu. After several loans, he ended up at Arsenal and has since become the club captain and one of the Premier League's best midfielders.

Turkish youngster Arda Guler now finds himself in a similar situation. Signed from Fenerbahce last summer, the 19-year-old is yet to feature prominently after injuries prevented a proper integration into Carlo Ancelotti's side.

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Guler has played fewer than 100 minutes for Real Madrid so far, which has prompted speculation about his future. Former Los Blancos star and ex-Fenerbahce teammate Mesut Ozil has urged the teenager to remain patient, though he did admit that leaving the club as Odegaard did is a potential solution.

But what kind of transfer would make sense for Guler right now?

Guler's ideal next club

At this point in his still-young career, Guler obviously can't literally follow in Odegaard's footsteps and sign for a club of the stature of Arsenal and expect regular minutes. The Norwegian first had to hone his skills at Heerenveen and Real Sociedad.

Data analytics firm SciSports do not believe that Guler currently has the ability required to play any kind of important role at a big Premier League side. He does, of course, still have massive potential.

However, right now, SciSports believe that his ideal next move would be to a club like Bournemouth. Indeed, the Cherries, are believed to be the perfect destination for the Turkish prodigy.

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SciSports analyse hundreds of data points to calculate a Club Fit rating, indicating how well a player would fit in at any given club. Bournemouth are his top option, followed by prolific talent producers Benfica, Bundesliga side Wolfsburg and English teams Burnley and Leicester.

It is evident that SciSports believe that signing for Real Madrid was premature and real-life experience has thus far backed this up. A loan away from the Spanish capital could do wonders for Guler's development.