Manchester United Transfer News: Latest Rumours on Martin Odegaard and Adil Rami

Martin Odegaard is a young player with the world at his feet, and Manchester United are the latest European juggernaut to make a pitch for his signature, reports suggest.

According to Stuart Mathieson of the Manchester Evening News, the 16-year-old Norwegian international has met with manager Louis van Gaal already, as he continues to weigh up his options. Mathieson sums up the situation regarding the player in the aforementioned piece:

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Odegaard has visited Bayern Munich, Liverpool, City and on Monday was at United to check out the club’s facilities at their Carrington training complex and Old Trafford.

The attacking midfielder also met with Reds manager Louis van Gaal at Carrington whilst on his winter break from club football in Norway. He is due to return to Norway to play for Stromgodset on January 6 and is expected to then weigh up his choice of future club.

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Indeed, Odegaard’s representatives are clearly taking great care over what is a big decision for the young man. The Stromsgodset IF forward is clearly a hugely talented footballer, but so often we’ve seen precocious early talent fizzle out. And with that in mind, the time his entourage is taking over any potential transfer is completely understandable.

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Some are already getting fed up with the persistent rumours about his future, however, per football writer Graham Ruthven:

Here are the kind of attributes Odegaard would offer United should they convince him to join:

United’s policy of bringing young players through the academy was vital to their success during Sir Alex Ferguson’s early tenure, and Van Gaal’s willingness to give academy talents chances in the first team this season is something that could work in the club’s favour. 

But at this juncture, with seemingly every big name in Europe mawkishly lusting after Odegaard's signature, it’d be difficult to say which club is leading the way in what’s becoming an extremely drawn-out transfer process. Although given the facilities, reputation and gravitas that United possess, they probably have just as good a chance as any team.

Indeed, United fans will be hoping for some players to come in and make a more short-term impression too. And according to Anthony Chapman of the Express, Van Gaal is looking to bolster his defensive options by exchanging Javier Hernandez—currently on loan at Real Madrid—for AC Milan’s Adil Rami at the end of the season.

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Here’s a look at why the French international is supposedly being targeted by the Red Devils:

While only three teams in the Premier League have conceded less goals than United, a quick glance over the players available to Van Gaal reveals a squad that is offensively loaded. In fact, the decent defensive record is largely down to the exploits of David de Gea between the sticks; the Spaniard is enjoying a wonderful campaign.

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So on the face of things, it’s little surprise that the Dutch boss is considering swapping an attacker for a central defender, and the Frenchman is certainly someone who’d make for intriguing viewing in the Premier League.

Rami is a player who would bring a real presence to this United back four. He’s physically imposing, wholesome in the challenge, comfortable on the ball and capable of filling in at full-back if needed. As noted here by Bleacher Report’s Italian football expert, Matteo Bonetti, Rami can occasionally be a little too strong in the tackle:

That physicality would be welcomed in England, though. On the face of things, Rami is a player who’d be perfect for the Premier League, and if Milan are privy to a swap deal, there’s little denying that getting Rami in at the expense of Hernandez would make this United squad look much more rounded as Van Gaal looks to build towards a prosperous 2015.