Real Madrid’s teenage sensation Martin Ødegaard could be loaned out by the end of the week, with West Ham the frontrunners to secure the signing, according to Le 10 Sport.
The reason for the acceleration of the deal is because Madrid are expecting to be informed of a one-year transfer ban in the coming days for breaching the rules over the transfer of under-age players.
Madrid manager, Zinedine Zidane, has urged Ødegaard to seek first team football away from the club and the Norwegian’s exclusion from their squad for the UEFA Super Cup Final on Tuesday has only led to the belief that he is on his way to another team for the season.
West Ham aren’t Ødegaard’s only options, though, with Liverpool, Hamburg and Bayer Leverkusen also showing an interest, although it is believed the youngster prefers a move to the Premier League.
However, the impending transfer ban could mean that Madrid want to keep Ødegaard in their squad as cover for the first team because they won’t be able to sign anyone else for the coming season. It is also believed though that if they loan the Norwegian out before the transfer ban is in place, they can include the recall clause, but if they are able to loan him out after the ban comes in place, the recall clause cannot be included.
West Ham, meanwhile, obviously want to accelerate the process as they do not want Madrid changing their minds if they are hit with the transfer ban. If the Hammers do secure Ødegaard’s services, he will be the third Norwegian international in their squad, following the arrivals of Martin Samuelsen and Håvard Nordtveit in the past two seasons.
