Inside Jurgen Klopp's transfer talks with Martin Odegaard and why he failed to sign him

As Liverpool take on Arsenal in a blockbuster Premier League clash, Mirror Football reflects on how Jurgen Klopp tried to sign Martin Odegaard, who the Gunners will be without at Anfield

The signing of Martin Odegaard is one of the most important milestones in Mikel Arteta’s revolution at Arsenal.

A fresh-faced Odegaard, then 22, first joined the Gunners on loan from Real Madrid in January 2021 while the north London club was at rock bottom. His transfer was made permanent that summer and his great leadership, intelligence and creativity quickly earned him the captain’s armband by the start of the 2022/23 season.

His importance to Arteta’s project goes far beyond his 31 Premier League goals and 23 assists for the Gunners, with his recent absence due to injury showing just how reliant Arsenal have become on the Norway skipper. Despite revealing that he is “getting closer” to a return earlier this week, Sunday’s top of the table clash with Liverpool will come too early for Odegaard.

While Arteta will deservedly get the credit for taking a chance on his untapped potential three years ago when his former wonderkid status was fading, Liverpool’s own legendary manager Jurgen Klopp had also eyed the talented midfield magician at one stage.

Prior to Odegaard’s move from Strømsgodset to the Santiago Bernabeu, then Borussia Dortmund manager Klopp tried to sign the 15-year-old talent. Like many of the elite European clubs interested, however, the German failed to match Real Madrid’s unique allure.

Klopp, speaking in 2022 ahead of a clash with Arsenal, said: "I spoke to him when he was 15 in Norway and the whole world wanted to sign him. He became the player everybody expected at that time."

Klopp had, in similar vein, revealed his admiration for Odegaard earlier that week. To the delight of Arsenal fans everywhere, Manchester United were another club who failed to sign Odegaard – on two occasions.

Their pursuit of the playmaker began when he was just 14. Back in 2013, when David Moyes was still manager, United invited Odegaard to spend some time at the club's Carrington training ground. Despite his obvious gifted talents, United decided to wait 12 months to see how Odegaard had developed, which proved to be a huge mistake.

In the meantime, Odegaard fast became one of the most sought-after teenagers in European football. By the age of 15, he was the youngest player to make his senior international debut with Norway and found himself the target of some of the biggest clubs on the planet.

United faced competition in the shape of Bayern Munich – managed by Pep Guardiola at the time – Liverpool, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Celtic and even Arsenal, with former manager Arsene Wenger admitting they “fought like mad” to get him after he showed similarities to a young Cesc Fabregas during a training session.

Barcelona were also interested and invited Odegaard, whose idol was Lionel Messi, to watch a home game against Cordoba in 2014. He was deemed so good that then United manager Louis van Gaal was sent to Norway to meet him face-to-face.

The Dutchman's aim was to persuade Odegaard that United was his best option, but was left stunned when the youngster insisted one of his conditions was he wanted to train with the first team from day one. Odegaard wanted to learn from the best straight away, but Van Gaal refused and the deal was dead in the water.

While United have only faltered since then, Liverpool – even after Klopp’s departure in the summer and Arne Slot’s appointment – have gone from strength to strength. The Reds currently lead the Premier League table after eight matches, four points in front of Arsenal ahead of their pivotal Emirates Stadium clash.

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