Manchester United have been pushing hard to sign Real Madrid midfielder Martin Odegaard, it has been revealed.

Marca says United were prepared to pay big money for the Norwegian following his performances while on loan at Real Sociedad last season.

But Madrid held off interest from the Old Trafford outfit to bring Odegaard back to the Bernabeu this summer.

It was just the latest effort from United to land the attacker, who first registered an interest in him in 2014, when he was 15.

United then returned for Odegaard last October with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in charge as the Norwegian was keen to swoop for his young compatriot.

Madrid were even thought to have offered the playmaker to United in a potential deal for Paul Pogba before the summer, reports The Sun.