Joe Cole Urges Arsenal to ‘Cash In’ on Martin Odegaard to Finance £78m Khvicha Kvaratskhelia Transfer

Joe Cole suggests Arsenal "cash in" on captain Martin Odegaard to fund a stunning summer move for Paris Saint-Germain star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 25, 2026, 6:47 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Football365

The Luxury of Squad Depth at the Emirates

Arsenal’s current trajectory has placed the club in a unique position where even the future of their captain, Martin Odegaard, is being questioned. According to Joe Cole, the North London side has reached a level of squad maturity that allows them to consider high-profile departures to facilitate tactical evolutions. With one goal and seven assists in 27 appearances this term, Odegaard has faced a season hampered by injury and increasing competition. Cole suggests that with Kai Havertz and Eberechi Eze capable of operating in the "No. 10" role, the Gunners are no longer solely dependent on the Norwegian's creativity.

Financing the Pursuit of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

The primary motivation for a potential Odegaard sale would be to secure the services of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. The Georgian winger has seen his stock soar following a devastating performance for PSG in the Champions League, where he was instrumental in an 8-2 aggregate dismantling of Chelsea. Currently valued at approximately €90 million (£78m), Kvaratskhelia is regarded as one of the most clinical left-sided attackers in world football. His arrival would provide the elite goal-scoring threat from the wing that Arsenal has lacked, potentially moving the club past the "bottleneck" of their recent trophy-less runs.

The Rise of the Next Generation

A significant factor in Cole’s "cash in" argument is the rapid development of Arsenal’s academy graduates. The emergence of Max Dowman and Ethan Nwaneri has provided Mikel Arteta with internal solutions that could eventually replicate Odegaard’s output at a fraction of the cost. Cole noted that as established stars like Declan Rice, William Saliba, and Gabriel Magalhães begin to command "Real Madrid money" in upcoming contract negotiations, the club must be strategic about where they allocate their wage bill. Selling a high-value asset like Odegaard could provide the necessary liquidity to maintain a balanced and competitive squad.