TEENAGERS have generally struggled to break into the Celtic first team in recent seasons but there is little doubt that one particular Norwegian would.

Martin Odegaard does not turn 16 for another fortnight but has already made his full international debut and is now being courted by just about every major club in Europe. This week it is Liverpool's turn to try to woo the forward who previously spent time at Real Madrid and Manchester United, while Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Manchester City have all also been credited with an interest.

All of which would seem to eliminate any possibility of the player ever alighting at Celtic. Apart from one telling factor, that is. It was under Ronny Deila's guidance that Odegaard made the breakthrough at Stromsgodset and the player undoubtedly still looks up to his former mentor. Now Celtic manager, Deila was rather cryptic when asked about the chances of that relationship continuing in Glasgow but, while there is still any sort of opening, he will continue to monitor the situation and put forward his club's case. It would go down as one of the biggest coups in Scottish football history should Odegaard end up pulling on a Celtic shirt, even just as a temporary stop on his way to one of Europe's behemoths, but Deila has not ruled it out just yet.

"He is a very good player but we have to stand in line: there are 20 clubs, maybe more, who want him,?? said the Norwegian of his compatriot. "He has been to clubs all over Europe to Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool. PSG [Paris Saint-Germain] wanted him but he hasn't had time to visit. So there is some hard competition.

"But I have control over that situation; I know what is happening there. He's in the town where my kids live and I know a lot of people there. We'll see if there are possibilities, of course, and we will try. But there's very hard competition.

"This is more about Martin's choices. What is his thinking now? Is it go to a big club and try to break in there and go down that road or go to a smaller club in not such a good league but where it is easier to get into the first team?

"Would he be ready to play for Celtic now? It's very hard to say. He's only 15-years-old and will be 16 later this month, but he is very special and every time he gets to a new level, he takes his chance. His attitude is great: he always wants to learn and he listens to everything you say."

Odegaard has a year left on his contract and Deila reckons Stromsgodset, understandably, will look to cash in. "I think it is up to Martin. If he chooses Real Madrid, it would be what they want to pay. If he chooses Celtic, then there are different prices. He has one year left on his contract and I think it's important Stromsgodset get money back for him."

In the meantime, then, Deila will concentrate on the youth prospects he already has. And they are not doing too bad a job. He was at Murray Park earlier in the week to watch the Celtic development squad beat their Rangers counterparts 6-1 and was impressed with what he saw.

James Forrest was the last player to graduate from youth team aspirant to become an established first-team figure, persistent injuries aside, but Deila believes there are a few among the current crop - they including Darnell Fisher, Eoghan O??Connell and Liam Henderson - who could end up breaking through as well.

"I was at the game [against Rangers] and was very pleased," added the manager. "They had a very good attitude, team spirit, were good in transition and had the ball 80% of the game, so they had good possession. They scored six goals, so it was a very good performance but I think we need to work on the same things as the first team: in the last third of the pitch to open up defences more.

"Some of them [the youth team players] have played [in the first team] already so there is talent there and there is also some very young talent there: players born in 1996 and 1997. It was very interesting. It is up to us now to find the right way to bring them to the first team through good training."

That opportunity may arise as part of a wider squad rotation. Deila is aware that some of his players are tired, given Celtic's heavy workload, and will look to drop some at various points to allow them to rest and recuperate. His side take on Motherwell at Fir Park this lunchtime before travelling to Croatia for a dead rubber Europa League group game against Dinamo Zagreb.

"It's tough to play so many games and there is some variation in the squad now. Some are playing very well and some are more tired. We have to look at the players individually and work out how to get them at the highest level.

"Football is much quicker now. There are more injuries and the body gets more tired after every game because the intensity is so high. That's what makes it harder for players to do it every week. There can be seasons when you get lucky with injuries, but I think it is harder these days. You must have at least 20 players at a high level."