Martin Odegaard looks set to be the latest young star to join Ajax's ranks as the Dutch side and Real Madrid head into talks about a two year loan deal for the Norwegian.
This season has seen an impressive resurgence for Ajax. Those who remember the early and mid 90s remember a team who won the Champions League and were responsible for bringing through some of the best young players in world football.
They stopped being a force in major European competitions for a while but two years made it through to the Europa League final, where they lost to Jose Mourinho's Manchester United.
Again this season they have become everyone's favourite club as youngsters like Frenkie de Jong and Matthijs de Ligt have helped them beat Real Madrid and Juventus on the way to a Champions League semi final against Spurs.
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De Jong is already leaving for Barcelona in the summer, De Ligt will likely follow him from the Johan Cruyff Arena and the question is how many of their players can Ajax keep.
However they could soon have a new addition to their midfield. According to De Telegraaf the club and Real Madrid will shortly meet to discuss a two year loan deal for Martin Odegaard.
The youngster has played at Heerenveen on loan in the past and this season has been with Chelsea feeder club Vitesse Arnhem.
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De Telegraaf say that Ajax weren't initially too keen on the 20 year old but his recent performances, including one at the Johan Cruyff Arena, have put him top of Marc Overmars' transfer targets.
A permanent deal is unlikely, because of Odegaard's extremely high potential, and any deal would have to include a buy back clause for the former Strømsgodset youth players.
When the Norwegian first moved to the Bernabeu he was managed at the Castilla team by Zinedine Zidane, although he also trained with the first team.
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The return of the Frenchman to the manager's position, after leaving at the end of last season, doesn't help Odegaard's chances of playing for Los Blancos as Zidane doesn't see him in his current plans.
Odegaard's future is one that has left many football fans intrigued and there can't be many better places for the next phase of his education than Ajax.
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