Aston Villa and Derby lead chase to land Real Madrid sensation Martin Odegaard on loan
Norwegian teen hit form with Heerenveen last season and Los Blancos boss Julen Lopetegui believes England's second-tier is the perfect spot for him
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ASTON VILLA and Derby are leading the chase for Real Madrid wonderkid Martin Odegaard, according to reports.
The Norwegian playmaker, 19, began to discover his form on an 18-month loan at Eredivisie outfit Heerenveen.
Los Blancos chief Julen Lopetegui wants to send him to the Championship next as he believes it will be a good place to develop further.
And the claims Villa and Derby are the frontrunners, with a host of clubs interested.
Odegaard has featured regularly in pre-season for Real, who he joined at the age of just 15 in 2015.
But after struggling to adapt since his move, club chiefs feel he needs more time before being thrown into a high-pressure environment.
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The ace has called time on his spell in Holland after racking up 43 appearances for The Super Frisians - scoring four times in all competitions.
But his time at the club was cut short last campaign after he suffered a fractured metatarsal five games before the end of the season.
Both Villa and Derby are set to delve into the loan market as they try to spearhead promotion pushes.