Twenty-One-year-old Real Madrid player, Marco Asensio burst through the football scenery last season to cement his place as one of the biggest stars in the making. The Spaniard who featured heavily for his country in the recently concluded UEFA European Under-21 Championship, suitably impressed with his goal-scoring form in the tournament.
Asensio threatened to walk away with the Golden Boot award at the tournament having netted a superb hat-trick against Macedonia, but had to settle for the Silver Boot, outscored by his Spain teammate, Saul Niguez.
Boasting the likes of Niguez, Asensio and Dani Ceballos, it’s not surprising that Spain were tipped to win this edition’s under-21 Championship, but they ended up runners-up to a well-drilled German side in the finals.
Asensio has turned heads around Europe owing to his superlative season with Real Madrid. The limited game-time afforded to him by Zinedine Zidane in Real Madrid’s star-studded line-up, saw him score 10 goals including one in the Champions League final against Juventus.
The player’s persisting form for club and country has considerably strengthened his negotiating hand with Real Madrid both pecuniarily and otherwise.
With a whole host of clubs interested in securing the 21-year-old’s services, the attacking midfielder has made his wishes of increased playing time known to the back-to-back Champions League winning Real Madrid manager, Zinedine Zidane. According to Diario Gol, Asensio is keen on staying with the Bernabeu outfit next season but wants a better contract to go with his increasing influence and mastery on the football pitch.
The likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Juventus are seemingly interested in the player and are looking to tempt the player into making a switch, in a move that is sure to involve a buy-back option. Real Madrid won’t be too open to losing a great Spanish prospect, to come back to haunt them in the future.
English clubs have been very busy in the transfer market, with the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool already smashing their respective transfer records, barely ten days into the window.
Arsenal have unveiled the signing of Alexandre Lacazette in a £52m deal from Lyon, whereas Liverpool bought £39m Mohamed Salah from Roma. Liverpool are seemingly heading the chase for the Spaniard as it could be argued that Arsene Wenger, already having signed Lacazette, may not be willing to spend a hefty sum for another attacking player.
Although Alexis Sanchez’s imminent transfer, seemingly likelier by the day, could change all that.
Jurgen Klopp is aggressively looking to add to his strike force in the transfer window, and it wouldn’t be surprising if Liverpool broke their transfer record in quick succession.
But the chances of Asensio leaving Madrid look bleak as the player wants to prove his mettle for Los Blancos than make a switch at this point.
