Real Madrid starlet Odegaard set for 'two-year loan move' to Ajax

Real Madrid are open to letting Martin Odegaard join Ajax on a two-year loan deal, with the 20-year-old still out of favour with Zinedine Zidane.

Odegaard joined Real Madrid four years ago as a wonderkid, but the move from Norwegian club Stromsgodset to the Bernabeu has certainly not worked out as he, or the club, would have hoped.

Just two senior appearances and two loan spells, to Herenveen and Vitesse, later, Odegaard has reached an important juncture in his career.

And, according to Dutch outlet De Telegraaf, Ajax and Real Madrid are set to meet over the coming days to discuss a lengthy loan spell in Amsterdam.

The Norway international, who is on £80,000 a week and contracted to Los Blancos until 2021, will hope to reignite his stuttering career by gaining regular first-team football at such a storied club.

Madrid, therefore, will have to renegotiate his contract before sending him on the two-year loan, otherwise they risk him leaving on a free transfer at the end of his spell in Holland.

It is understood Ajax were, at first, reluctant to take Odegaard, deeming the move to be too frivolous.

But his performances in for Vitesse in recent weeks, notably at the Johan Cruyff Arena last Tuesday, have convinced the club's top brass to thrash out a deal with the Spanish capital club.

And while it appears that Odegaard is not at the forefront of Zidane's plans, the player spoke last month of his delight at the Frenchman's reappointment.

'I think that it is very positive,' Odegaard said. 'He had some successful seasons and he knows the club and the players well.

'Everyone knows him too and there is a good relationship among the group so I think that it is perfect.

'For me, is also a positive as I know him well and we have a good relationship with each other.

'I had him as a coach for many years, both in the senior team and with Castilla.'

With Frenkie de Jong bound for Barcelona next season, Odegaard will certainly have sizeable boots to fill.