The biggest talent coming out of Scandinavia is recent years is of course Real Madrid starlet Martin Odegaard but the young Norwegian could never make it big since his high-profile move to Los Blancos from his boyhood club Stromgodset in January 2015. In his 18 months at Santiago Bernabeu, the 17-year-old could make just one appearance for the senior side spending most of the time while playing for reserve side Castilla. With James Rodriguez and Isco struggling for playing time in Zidane’s 4-3-3 formation, the future does not look promising for the youngster and quite expectedly the wonderkid has attracted suitors.
West Ham United have done the best business this summer by far when compared to any Premier League side but Slaven Bilic looks far from done in the market as Spanish media house AS claims that the Hammers are pushing for a permanent transfer for the 17-year-old. Real Madrid have a transfer ban looming on their head and keeping that in mind, West Ham are eager to pick up negotiations and complete the transfer by the end of the week.
The Norwegian made his debut for his boyhood side Strømsgodset on 13 April 2014, becoming the youngest player to feature in Tippeligaen, and became its youngest goalscorer on 16 May. The youngster holds plenty of other major honours like the youngest player to represent Real Madrid, the youngest debutant in international football at the age of 15 years and 253 days and the youngest player to feature in UEFA European Championship qualifiers.
Clearly destined for big things, Odegaard would now probably feel that his move to Real Madrid snubbing almost every European elite club was a big mistake.
West Ham, a club on the rising, would be a perfect club for the Norwegian international as he can be a crucial player at the East London club for plenty of years to come. He is a natural playmaker with good trickery and skills and can pick out defence-splitting passes when deployed as a number ten. Odegaard is much ahead of his age in terms of the composure he shows on the pitch.
Odegaard is a talented player who can be a world beater in near future but he should seek a move out of Real Madrid as soon as possible to do that. A long-term project, signing Odegaard will be a massive statement of intent from West Ham.
