Celtic chase Real Madrid starlet Martin Odegaard in lucrative loan deal

Celtic are eyeing an audacious swoop for Real Madrid’s highly-rated wonderkid Martin Odegaard, with the Scottish Premiership champions seeking a season-long loan deal for the Norwegian prospect, who turned down a host of European giants to join Los Blancos last January.

Odegaard’s switch to the Bernabeu hasn’t gone according to plan for the youngster, though, as he continues to struggle with the club’s reserve side Real Madrid Castilla, which is managed by legendary playmaker Zinedine Zidane, and he hopes to seek a loan move around Europe if a senior squad position isn’t guaranteed.

Members of the Real squad, that are not on international duty, are currently on a club tour of Australia and China, after a trophy-less season, but new boss Rafael Benitez may have lifted spirits going into pre-season.

A key aspect of a potential deal for Celtic involving this talented starlet is Hoops manager Ronny Deila, who guided the Glasgow giants to a domestic double of Premiership and Scottish League Cup victories this campaign (odds-on 1/25 with Coral to retain title). Successful coach Deila worked closely with Odegaard at his first professional club Stromsgodset, and a reunion with the 16-year-old could be a massive coup for the Bhoys next season.

In addition to having already worked with Odegaard in his young career, Celtic would be able to offer the Norway international attacker the chance to regularly feature in the Champions League, a tasty prospect that could hugely benefit the playmaker’s long-term career in the Spanish capital (Madrid 5/1 to win 2015/16 CL).