In the January transfer window, Matt Ryan became Arsenal’s second addition, joining on loan from Brighton for the remainder of the campaign.
The Australian international goalkeeper fills a hole created by Matt Macey’s departure, who joined Scottish side Hibernian. But this transfer poses a problem within the squad. Premier League rules state that a team should not have in the squad more than 17 non-homegrown players. With Ryan’s inclusion seeing that quota being reached by Arsenal. As Macey’s middle name, coincidentally, is Ryan, which shows ‘Matthew Ryan’ appearing on the list, there might be some confusion for fans checking the Premier League squad lists.
With Sead Kolasinac still included but now on loan with Schalke, those lists have not been revised yet. Arsenal will step down to 16 non-homegrown players, removing Kolasinac from the current roster, but Ryan’s signing brings the Gunners up to the full number.
In the final days of the window to cut Arsenal’s roster of other non-homegrown players. With a variety of possible candidates, exits are now likely to occur. Signed in the summer, Runar Alex Runarsson is connected with an exit on loan. While Shkodran Mustafi, out of contract in the summer, also attracted attention. In the final days of the window, both will have to leave the club if Odegaard is to be replaced by another non-homegrown player.
Arsenal are concluding an agreement for the rest of the season to bring Martin Odegaard to the club on loan from Real Madrid. This month, Mikel Arteta has been pressing for the addition of a creative midfielder and the availability of Odegaard has alerted them to a contract. In fact, Marca goes as far as suggesting a deal could become official ‘in the next few hours’. And even David Ornstein has stated that the player did not practice with the club on Thursday, rather than finishing gym work.
In the loan agreement for Martin Odegaard, Arsenal will not have a clause to make the contract permanent at the end of the season, reports AS. The desire of the Spanish side was always for any arrangement to be strictly temporary and they did not want to include any such permanent transfer agreement.
