Clubs usually dismiss a target by saying he is not quite the right level. Bayern Munich have done the opposite with Martin Odegaard.

Speculation that Arsenal’s captain could be tempted by a move to the German record champions has been flatly rejected by Christian Falk, head of football at BILD and the author of the Bayern Insider blog. Writing on his own site, Falk said earlier reports that Odegaard “could imagine signing for Bayern Munich” were simply untrue, and gave the reasoning behind the club’s thinking.

“He’s now too old and far too good for it to be an option for FC Bayern, especially at a time when the club is already fully stocked in this position,” Falk wrote.

‘Too old’ means 27

The 27-year-old Odegaard, who turns 28 on 17 December, does not fit the profile Bayern are chasing in midfield. Falk reports the club wants younger players it can develop into long-term replacements for the current generation, including a successor in time for Serge Gnabry.

Read also: Marcus Rashford eyes Liverpool comeback as Manchester United face worst crisis in 40 years

Bayern’s priorities for their next window, according to the Bayern Insider piece, lie elsewhere: a left-sided attacker and reinforcement at centre back. A playmaker of Odegaard’s standing was never on that list, even when his name was linked to Munich.

The connection is not new. Odegaard trained with Bayern as a teenager under Pep Guardiola, and Falk writes that the club has been in dialogue with his representatives for years. The familiarity, though, has not translated into interest in a transfer.

Arsenal captain in his best form for years

The “far too good” part of the verdict is backed up by what Odegaard has been doing this season. He has scored five goals in all competitions, including the 72nd-minute winner against Hull City on 7 November that put Arsenal six points clear at the top of the Premier League.

Last season was wrecked by shoulder and knee trouble, which limited the midfielder to one goal in 36 appearances. This time around he has started every league match and 13 of Arsenal’s 17 fixtures overall.

Read also: Collins, Branthwaite and Bassey among Pochettino’s first Man United targets

Odegaard himself has acknowledged the shift.

“Compared to last season, it’s completely different. It was a frustrating one with all the injuries and lots of bad luck,” he told Daily Cannon on 9 November.

Paul Merson, the former Arsenal midfielder, told Goal that his old club’s captain has been “outstanding this season” and “like a new signing”.

Falk’s own piece puts Odegaard’s Arsenal career at 47 goals in 250 matches, with a contract that runs to 2028. For Bayern, those numbers describe a player who is doing too much at an existing club to be worth prising away.

Read also: Blatter calls Infantino a ‘dictator’ and says he should be sent to a psychiatric ward

What Arsenal face next

Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Hull matched the club’s best start to a Premier League season with 27 points from 10 games. Odegaard is under contract at the Emirates until 2028.

Read also: Bellingham credits private messages from David Beckham and Ian Wright for England support