Liverpool Transfer News: Wonderkid Martin Odegaard Set for Key Reds Visit

Norwegian starlet Martin Odegaard will visit Liverpool's Melwood training complex before the turn of the year, according to reports.

The 15-year-old, who has already represented Norway's senior national team, will fly in to meet Brendan Rodgers, per Norwegian television station TV 2 (via Dov Rawson of 101 Great Goals).

This privilege isn't exclusive to Liverpool—the aforementioned report suggests the midfielder previously travelled to the Real Madrid camp and has others lined up—but could aid the club's quest to land one of this season's breakout stars. ITV posted a shot of the youngster in action:

In September, talkSPORT reported Manchester United, Manchester City and Bayern Munich are among those to have invited Odegaard for a visit. He is a Liverpool fan, however, as noted by Gerard Brand of the MailOnline.

Currently representing Stromsgodset in the Tippeligaen, Odegaard has scored five goals in 23 appearances this season, per WhoScored.com. This includes a recent double in the 2-1 win over Lillestrom, solidifying Stromsgodset's fourth-place position in a league currently dominated by Molde.

Odegaard is both the youngest player and scorer to feature in the Norwegian top flight. He is also the country's youngest international and is destined to be a key player over the coming years. BBC 606 posted another broken record for the starlet:

"Almost every top European club has been in touch," noted his father Hans Erik, reported by John Sinnott of CNN. It's easy to see why, as noted in the video below:

Celtic manager Ronny Deila, who provided Odegaard with his full debut while at Stromsgodset, believes the attacking midfielder can "become the best in the world," per Sinnott's report. This is obviously the thinking of many, as the European elite clamber for his attention heading into the January transfer window.

The player himself is said to have had his interest "piqued" by Bayern, according to Kieran Gill of the MailOnline. "They won the Champions League, so they're the best club in the world," said Odegaard in a recent TV 2 documentary, reported by Gill. "They play good football, with lots of good players."

B/R UK's Gianni Verschueren believes the starlet should head elsewhere, however:

The lure of Ajax and Madrid (among other clubs) was beautifully brought to life by one illustrator on Twitter:

Brendan Rodgers' management of Raheem Sterling has shown he is capable of developing young players in the public eye. The Northern Irishman isn't afraid to provide inexperienced talents with responsibility—just look at his Bernabeu lineup against Real Madrid—and is certainly willing to offer a decent amount of freedom to those who wouldn't necessarily receive a first-team shot elsewhere.

Michael Regan/Getty Images

Louis van Gaal has proven the same at United this season, while Manuel Pellegrini and Pep Guardiola are less inclined to stick with youth, perhaps due to the expectations of their club.

Wherever he ends up, Odegaard's first major career decision will be a massive one. The next team he chooses will receive the opportunity to instill its footballing philosophy into a player who has already proven he has the physical attributes to compete at the top level.

We've seen how this can shape stars over the years—think Steven Gerrard, Paul Scholes and Lionel Messi embodying the philosophy of their teams—so Odegaard's training ground visits can be considered a precursor to a decision that will shape the remainder of his professional output.