Real Madrid forward Marco Asensio is reportedly considering making the jump to Premier League giants Arsenal in the upcoming transfer window.
According to a report from El Nacional, Arsenal’s chances of signing Real Madrid forward Marco Asensio in the January transfer window have been boosted as the Spaniard is open to joining the north London outfit.
Asensio has been with Real Madrid for over six years now, having arrived from RCD Mallorca in the summer of 2015. After an impressive season on loan at Espanyol, the attacker was drafted into the first-team squad at the Santiago Bernabeu. He was tipped as the club’s future after a run of impressive performances early in his tenure.
However, Asensio’s progression took a hit when he suffered a long-term injury that sidelined him for almost a year. Since returning fully last season, the 25-year-old has been unable to hit the heights of the past, struggling to make an impact. As a result, the 25-year-old has found himself on the periphery of the first team, with the likes of Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo Goes and Lucas Vazquez getting more game-time.
Indeed, in the ongoing campaign, Asensio has just started five games across all competitions (14 appearances in total) under Carlo Ancelotti. With the FIFA World Cup coming next year, the forward is keen on making the Spain squad and believes that he might not be able to make an impression on Luis Enrique if he continues to warm the benches at Real Madrid.
So, having rejected offers from the likes of Tottenham and Juventus in the summer transfer window, Asensio is now willing to consider a move away to Arsenal as per the report. The Gunners have been long-term admirers of the Spanish international and had attempted to lure him to the Emirates in the summer, only to see their efforts prove futile.
However, that has not dissuaded them one bit, as the interest in Asensio continues to remain intact. The Gunners have been heavily reliant on Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe to provide the creative spark in the final third. With Nicolas Pepe struggling and likely to be moved on shortly, they could use a versatile forward of Asensio’s quality in their ranks.
The report claims that the Gunners manager Mikel Arteta has already spoken to the Real Madrid star and he is now considering the prospect of moving to north London, despite there being no European football on offer. Los Blancos, for their part, would be open to a parting of ways provided a transfer fee in excess of €30 million is offered, which is very much capable for Arsenal in the January window.
What now remains to be seen is whether Arsenal are indeed successful in capturing Asensio from Real Madrid in the winter or if they look at alternatives to bolster their attack.
