Real Madrid midfielder Martin Odegaard was in France to watch Rennes on Sunday, increasing speculation that he will join the club on loan in January.
Madrid signed Odegaard in a deal worth up to €8 million in January last year, since when he has played for their Castilla B team in the Spanish third tier.
The 17-year-old Norway international was linked with a loan to Rennes in the summer, but Madrid reportedly decided against that given their appeal against a FIFA transfer ban imposed for breaking youth transfer rules.
That will be less important once Odegaard turns 18 on Dec. 17 -- and a move appears closer after Ouest-France reported that Odegaard was in the crowd at the 1-1 draw between Stade Rennes and Saint Etienne.
He made his first senior start for Madrid in Wednesday's Copa del Rey home win over La Cultural y Deportivo Leonesa, and coach Zinedine Zidane was asked whether he would go out on loan in January.
"That could be [an option] -- we will look at it later," he said. "Odegaard showed he has character and personality. He played a good game."
Ex-Manchester United and Arsenal defender Mikael Silvestre, an advisor at Rennes, told Ouest-France last month that the club remained interested in a loan move.
"We've not yet sealed the deal for Odegaard," he said. "We will see in January."