Martin Ødegaard

[Bender]

According to reports in Norwegian media, the young star has accepted an invitation to visit the Ajax training centre in Amsterdam.

Ajax are renowned for their excellent youth academy and they believe it would be the perfect setting for Martin Odegaard to hone his skills.

Ajax coach Frank De Boer said earlier this week “If he should choose, he should choose Ajax. Here at Ajax, a player like him will get the chance. If he chooses somewhere else, like England (Manchester United or Liverpool), he will not get many opportunities. With us he will have a chance in the first team”.

De Boer continued, “In Madrid they don’t wait for a boy like him. There he might be sent on loan and it will take a long time before he eventually gets a chance. If I were him I would choose Ajax because of the good academy and he can take the next step from here. Maybe he is ready for bigger tasks already like 20 to 21 years old”.

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[meffin]

Good career move, Ajax for a few years then a bigger club once hes a bit older and had experience from a big name club

[Pablo]

Good career move, Ajax for a few years then a bigger club once hes a bit older and had experience from a big name club

Yeah from his point of view it would probably be a smart move in all honesty. He might only ever get one chance to sign for us though, which I'd imagine will be weighing on his mind.

Despite what De Boer says we also have a decent track record of giving youngsters a chance too.

[Resu]

Yeah from his point of view it would probably be a smart move in all honesty. He might only ever get one chance to sign for us though, which I'd imagine will be weighing on his mind.

Despite what De Boer says we also have a decent track record of giving youngsters a chance too.

If he can't cut at Ajax he won't cut it here either. If he lives up to the hype he can spend 3-4 years there. He'll still be under 20, and would fit our profile nicely.

[frank the tank]

i think if we signed him, we should do something similar to what Chelsea did with Courtois - sign him on a long term deal and send him on loan for 2 years. Somewhere in the premier league with a record of playing good football and bringing through young players would be ideal - somewhere like Swansea or Southampton....we could also use him as a loan-bargaining tool the next time we are signing a player from another club.

[BigChief]

Perfect move, if he develops as hoped he'll still be a Liverpool fan. And hopefully we'll still be a big draw, i.e. CL worthy. Last player we got from Ajax was a disgusting biter.

[kev776]

We won't be interested until he costs 20m+

[Slinky Skills]

We won't be interested until he costs 20m+

[tsb]

We won't be interested until he costs 20m+

So true.

Would prefer taking a punt and loaning him out to a team like...... Ajax!

[baitman]

So true.

Would prefer taking a punt and loaning him out to a team like...... Ajax!

we would probably do better sending all our decent young talent over their for some intensive coaching. we seem to drain the life out of any potential and they end up being mostly wasted.

[Fierce]

So true.

Would prefer taking a punt and loaning him out to a team like...... Ajax!

He's too young to play for a team good enough to provide the development he'd need. He would need to be as good as or better in order to play regularly, so he'd need to drop down to a suitable level

[red g]

n-demand Norwegian wonderkid Martin Odegaard will undergo a trial with Liverpool before Christmas.

Odegaard - named TEAMtalk's top wonderkid - is the subject of intense interest around the world after bursting onto the scene as a 15-year-old prodigy.

The attacking midfielder has been linked with Liverpool previously, and is also thought to be a fan of the club.

Although the Norwegian schoolboy will go on trial at Anfield before Christmas, they will face very tough competition to eventually secure his signature.

In England alone, Manchester United and Manchester City are known admirers of the Stromsgodset talent, while Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Ajax are just some of the huge names set to do battle to sign him.

Odegaard, who just last month became the youngest player in European Championships history aged 15 years and 300 days, will spend a week training at Liverpool, but it is believed that a decision on the youngster's future is not imminent.

Despite the glut of huge clubs chasing him, Odegaard retains a level-headedness belying his age.

"If you get carried away now, you won't get far in 10 years," Odegaard says.

"I'm supposed to be at my best then, not now. That I know."

Born on 17 December 1998, Odegaard has already made over 20 appearances for Stromsgodset in the Norwegian Tippeligaen, as well as two international caps, this despite only recently completing his compulsory education in his homeland.

http://www.teamtalk.com/news/2483/9561108/Transfer-news-Martin-Odegaard-set-for-Liverpool-trial-over-Christmas

[Shaggy]

Born in December 98! **** me

[red g]

Norwegian prodigy Martin Odegaard admits Liverpool are his dream club but that will not influence any decision on his future.

The teenager - named TEAMtalk's top wonderkid - was known to be one of the brightest properties in Europe even before he made his debut for the national senior side last month aged just 15, becoming the youngest player to feature in a European Championship qualifier.

He has already trained with the youth teams of Bundesliga sides Bayern Munich and Stuttgart - and also met Borussia Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp - has visited Real Madrid and is set to see Liverpool's facilities for himself next month.

And while the Stromsgodset midfielder has followed his father in becoming a Reds fan, he is confident that will not affect his thinking when he makes his next career choice, most likely in the summer.

"Liverpool have always been my dream club," Odegaard told German newspaper Sport Bild.

"But I will not let this affect my decision when I choose a new club.

"It's all about finding the team that is best for me and for my development. That is not necessarily Liverpool.

"I haven't really thought about my future yet. I will end the season here and then visit a number of clubs. I have not made a final decision yet, though.

"Of course, it's flattering when you hear that big clubs are after you, but I don't think about it too often."

Last week Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, speaking after their 1-0 defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League, was reluctant to talk about Odegaard but did praise his qualities.

"I know he's a big talent, at that age to be playing senior football at 15 and in a competitive league," said the Northern Irishman.

"He's got wonderful ability and wonderful talent, but there's nothing much more to say on him."

Born on 17 December 1998, Odegaard has already made over 20 appearances for Stromsgodset in the Norwegian Tippeligaen, as well as two international caps, this despite only recently completing his compulsory education in his homeland.

http://www.teamtalk.com/news/2483/9561108/Transfer-news-Martin-Odegaard-admits-Liverpool-are-dream-club

[BigChief]

I remember being this excited when we signed a certain 15 year old from QPR. Never saw him play but the buzz around him was infectious, more than other so-called prodigies. Odegaard is giving off the same buzz.