Arda Guler to Arsenal: Arteta plots Odegaard repeat with Real Madrid raid

Robin Bairner

• 25 Nov 2024 11:30 GMT
• 4 min read

Arsenal have been linked with a move for Real Madrid wonderkid Arda Guler.

The Turkey international joined Los Blancos a little over a year ago from Fenerbahce but has struggled to make an instant impact in Carlo Ancelotti’s squad.

Consequently, he is one player that reports suggest the Bernabeu side could be prepared to sell in the transfer market, but how likely is this and is a deal with Arsenal realistic?

Arda Guler to Arsenal: The background

Arsenal are looking for a wide attacker to supplement Bukayo Saka on the right wing. The Gunners have not found natural support for the England winger, while they are also looking for a multi-purpose player who can feature across the attack.

Guler ticks these boxes and, according to CaughtOffside, is being closely tracked by Mikel Arteta’s side. Furthermore, the player is no longer seen as an untouchable at Real Madrid.

How would he fit at Arsenal?

Guler would arrive at Arsenal as a backup player to make an impact off the bench and be rotated into the starting XI on occasion.

He primarily plays off the right for Real Madrid, and at the Emirates he would act as support to Saka, who rarely gets the opportunity to break due to a lack of suitable cover.

The 19-year-old features for Turkey in a No.10 role, which he has also played at times for Los Blancos.

Data analytics experts SciSports cast doubt on whether Guler has what it takes to break into the Arsenal first team on a permanent basis. His current SciSkill rating of 78.0 puts him in the bracket of the Gunners’ poorest first-team options. This is calculated using hundreds of in-game data points. Saka, for example, is up at 127.1.

Guler’s potential SciSkill of 111.5 would put him 12th.

What would the transfer fee be?

Although Guler has an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €28 million, the idea for Real Madrid is reportedly to loan him out.

A deal in the style of the move that took Martin Odegaard to Arsenal in 2021 is said to be possible.

Beyond the Gunners, Aston Villa, AC Milan and Juventus are said to be monitoring the situation.

Current ETV

Arda Güler

AM (R), M (CR)

Real Madrid

Arda Güler

AM (R), M (CR)

Real Madrid

€28M

ETV Range

€21M - €35M

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Arda Guler: Is Arsenal a good move?

Arsenal are better placed to allow Arda Guler to reach his potential, according to SciSports. Its career advice tool gives the Gunners five stars with regards potential development of the player, which compares to just three at Real Madrid.

Overall, though, Guler does not seem to have a whole lot to gain by leaving the Spaniards to join the Premier League club.

Just as he has found first-team opportunities hard to come by at the Bernabeu, he would be stuck behind Saka at the Emirates with no prospect of fighting his way to a regular starting berth.

Los Blancos have also thrown him a bone with an alteration of their system that saw him start against Leganes at the weekend.

SciSports agree with this assessment, giving Arsenal just two stars in this category. Real Madrid, by contrast, get four stars.

His current club also outperform Arsenal in terms of playing style and formation, scoring five stars in each of these categories.

Overall, Real Madrid have a Club Fit score of 84 compared to a very respectable 76 for the Gunners.

If he were to depart, the Emirates would be a decent choice, but staying at Real Madrid is the optimal choice for his career.