Real Madrid youngster Martin Odegaard is reportedly “desperate” to seal a loan move to Liverpool, while reports in the Portuguese press say the Reds have not given up on Sporting midfielder Joao Mario just yet.

As reported by Joe Rimmer of the Liverpool Echo, Odegaard is expected to leave Los Blancos on a loan move during the summer transfer window, as the teenager has found few opportunities to impress in the Spanish capital.

He mainly featured for Real Madrid’s B-team, Castilla, and while he has impressed in pre-season, a loan move can only help his progression. He never made a secret of the fact he was a Liverpool fan when just about every top team in Europe courted him, and naturally, Anfield is now being touted as a possible destination.

The buzz surrounding Odegaard when he first stole the spotlight was incredible, as the youngster, then just 15 years old, impressed with a host of great performances for Stromsgodset. He flashed remarkable upside and even held his own on international duty with Norway.

Here’s a look at some of his highlights:

Odegaard spent weeks traveling the continent and meeting with top clubs before eventually picking Real―the type of club bulking with talent and less willing to give youngsters a chance. Predictably, he has struggled to find minutes with the senior team, appearing in just one official match so far.

Still just 17 years old, Odegaard remains one of the most talented young players in the world, but he’s in dire need of some consistent playing time at the senior level. Whether he would find just that at Anfield is a different story, and Yahoo Sport UK’s Kristan Heneage doubts whether the Reds would have an interest in such a move:

Manager Jurgen Klopp would undoubtedly love to work with a player like Odegaard, but adding the Norway international on loan makes little sense. He still needs a lot of seasoning, so he wouldn’t be an impact player, and the only reason he would leave Madrid in the first place is to be developed by a club willing to invest time and effort.

Liverpool are focused on winning, not developing another team’s players, and unless Klopp believes he could find a way to convince Odegaard to stay with Liverpool once his loan move comes to an end, there’s no reason for the club to chase a move.

Meanwhile, A Bola (h/t Daily Express‘ Liam Spence) reports Liverpool will present Sporting with an improved offer for Mario after seeing a £33.5 million bid turned down.

Mario’s father recently told Diario de Noticias (h/t Spence) that Sporting have already turned down offers from both Inter Milan and Liverpool, while Real and Paris Saint-Germain have also been linked:

Proposals for the lad don’t come directly to me.

They go to his agent, Kia Joorabchian, and the Sporting President. I was informed, however, that the club said no to a €35m (£29.3m) bid plus €10m (£8.4m) in bonuses from Inter and €40m (£33.5m) from Liverpool.

Nothing particular has happened, my son is a professional and knows he has a contract with Sporting.

Per Sky Sports News’ Kaveh Solhekol, Sporting are holding out for a massive fee:

The 23-year-old midfielder grabbed the spotlight as he guided Portugal to the final of the UEFA European Under-21 Championship last year, and he contributed to the nation’s UEFA Euro 2016 title as well.

While he’s still developing, Mario’s raw talent in the centre of the pitch is undeniable. Here’s a look at some of his highlights:

The reported price tag of £50 million is an absurd amount of money for a talented but flawed player, however. Liverpool could certainly use another class central midfielder, but Mario is still very much a project, and there are no guarantees he ever reaches his potential.

Team-mate William Carvalho is a prime example of a young player who looked dominant in the Portuguese league but not nearly as strong as soon as the competition improved, and his value has dropped tremendously in the past year. The same could happen to Mario once he’s asked to expand his game, and for now, the Reds are better off spending their money elsewhere.

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