Newcastle United are reportedly prepared to make a January swoop for Marco Asensio, who is valued at around €50 million.
According to El Nacional, Newcastle United have stepped up their pursuit of Marco Asensio. The Real Madrid attacker has emerged as one of the January targets for the Premier League outfit, who have already made the first proposal worth around €35 million.
Real Madrid are open to selling Asensio, as they believe they have shown enough patience with the Spaniard. He does not have a future at Santiago Bernabeu at all, although club president Florentino Perez is not keen on accepting Newcastle’s €35 million bid. He is apparently holding out for a fee of €50 million if he is to sanction the sale of the attacker in January.
A product of the RCD Mallorca youth academy, Asensio has endured a steady downfall at Real Madrid over the past couple of years. He has struggled with injuries, while the player has also failed to offer productivity upfront. In fact, the Spaniard has netted a combined total of only nine goals in the past three completed seasons in La Liga.
In the new campaign, Asensio has been offered enough game-time by Carlo Ancelotti, having featured in ten league matches. But his tally of just three goals has been quite underwhelming. And with Real Madrid being poised to sign Kylian Mbappe, perhaps even in January, they are prepared to part ways with the 25-year-old.
Asensio has had no shortage of admirers from the Premier League. Even in the ongoing campaign, the winger has been linked with a move to Arsenal while Liverpool are also in the mix. However, it is Newcastle United, who have emerged as the frontrunner in the race to sign the Real Madrid star in January.
It appears Eddie Howe identifies the Spaniard as an ideal addition to the team, as he can offer not only experience and quality but also the winning mentality, having won two Champions League titles with Real Madrid. His pedigree at the highest level could be vital in helping Newcastle form the crux of their team, as they look to dominate England in the years to come.
It remains to be seen whether the Magpies do meet Real Madrid’s €50 million price tag, but one would imagine the club would have no problems from the financial side of things, especially after UEFA eased Financial Fair Play restrictions recently.
