Liverpool failed in push to sign Real Madrid youngster

Premier League leaders Liverpool tried to sign Martin Odegaard from Real Madrid last summer before he moved to Real Sociedad on loan, according to the player's former manager Leonid Slutsky. 

The Russian boss managed the prodigious Norwegian at Vitesse, where he excelled, before Odegaard made the switch to Real Sociedad. 

The 21-year-old has continued to impress for the Spanish outfit and it has seen him linked with a number of high profile moves. 

A transfer, though, could have already come to fruition, with Slutsky adament that Liverpool were among the teams chasing the Norway international. 

"His time at Vitesse has been very important," Slutsky is quoted as saying by The Metro.  

"He became one of the best players in the Eredivisie and had many offers in his pocket. Not only from Real Sociedad, but also from Liverpool and Ajax. 

"It is an honour to have had a share in Martin’s growth as a footballer." 

Odegaard has scored four goals and registered five assists for Real Sociedad in LaLiga this season, yielding a WhoScored rating of 7.29 in the process.