Liverpool have reportedly tabled a €50 million bid for Real Madrid winger Marco Asensio.
According to Spanish media outlet Diario Gol, Liverpool have made an offer in the region of €50 million for Real Madrid’s Spanish sensation Marco Asensio. The 21-year-old has struggled to break into Real’s starting eleven, and the Reds are looking to capitalise.
Asensio has featured on 23 occasions in Real’s title winning campaign of 2016/17, but many of his appearances have been off the bench. Manager Zinedine Zidane has an embarrassment of riches available at his disposal, and it is difficult to hand regular playing minutes to the youngster.
The likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale and Isco have been the Frenchman’s preferred attacking options, leaving Asensio fifth in the pecking order. Striker Alvaro Morata has also been decent, but is expected to leave in the summer.
The lack of playing time could also see Asensio ponder over a move away from the Santiago Bernabeu, and Anfield is beginning to be viewed as a likely destination for the up and coming Real Madrid superstar.
Liverpool were strongly linked with Roma forward Mohamed Salah and were on the cusp of completing a move for him, but they were priced out of the deal, and turned their attention to Sporting’s Gelson Martins.
If the Portuguese side opt against letting of of their prized asset, Asensio has emerged as a likely transfer target for Jurgen Klopp’s team. The 21-year-old has enjoyed a decent season as a fringe player, scoring 10 goals in all competitions, and he also found the back of the net in the Champions League final.
Asensio is understood to be valued highly by the Real hierarchy, but is reportedly unsettled at the club as he believes he is not getting the sufficient amount of minutes under his belt that he needs to take his game to the next level.
Thus, with Liverpool’s offer, he may convince Zidane to accept the bid and sanction the player’s departure from the club in the summer. The Frenchman is unlikely to give in, but is not expected to stand in the player’s way should he hand in an official transfer request.
While €50 million may seem a tad high for a player of Asensio’s experience, the 21-year-old is extremely talented and versatile, and will bring that added zest that was lacking in the Liverpool side this past season.