Sources: Odegaard offered to Wolves but Nuno knocked him back
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Sources: Odegaard offered to Wolves but Nuno knocked him back

Wayne Veysey
Wayne Veysey

Founder & Managing Director AUTHORITY Former chief correspondent at Evening Standard, Goal and Press Association with nearly three decades in national, regional and digital news and sports journalism. Wayne directs the network’s news strategy and high-level operations. FOCUS Editorial direction for the 11-site network and newsroom management. THE BRIEF Wayne oversees the network’s editorial standards across the network. He provides the final sign-off on all headline scoops, ensuring content across all platforms meets the standards required for a high-velocity newsroom.

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Wolves knocked back the chance to sign Martin Odegaard from Real Madrid last summer, Football Insider can reveal.

The Midlands giants were offered the Norwegian sensation, 22, after he had completed a successful season-long loan at Real Sociedad.

A Wolves source has told Football Insider that manager Nuno Espirito Santo was not convinced Odegaard would be right for his team and rejected a potential deal.

The attacking midfielder ended up staying in Madrid for the first half of this season before joining Arsenal on loan in January.

Wolves fans may be miffed at a lost opportunity as Odegaard is starting to look the player he was touted to be when he moved to the Spanish giants in his mid-teens.

The 26-times international has become an increasingly effective player in north London.

He was described by Mikel Arteta as "incredible" as the Gunners came from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 against West Ham last weekend.

The loanee pulled the strings in a masterful display as he followed up his goalscoring performance in the win over Tottenham the previous weekend.

Football Insider revealed on 27th March that Arsenal are very keen to convert Odegaard's loan into a permanent deal.

There is encouragement for Arsenal behind the scenes as it is understood the player will be sold or loaned out by Real in the summer window if Zinedine Zidane remains the manager.

However, Odegaard may stay at Real in the summer if Zidane loses his job.

Odegaard had been a bit-part player at Real in the first half of the campaign and made just three league starts.

At Arsenal, he has started five of the last six league matches and now has two goals from his 12 appearances for the club.

In other news, Wolves fear Raul Jimenez may take 18 months to fully recover from his fractured skull.

Arsenal
Wolverhampton Wanderers
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