Arsenal have entered the race to sign Real Madrid forward Marco Asensio on a free transfer this summer, according to recent reports.
Arsenal are keen to bolster their attacking options to provide more quality in depth as they aim to push for the title again next season, and according to a report in Spain by Onda Cero, the Gunners have turned their attention to Asensio.
Asensio has made 30 appearances for Real Madrid this season, however under half of them appearances were starts. He has scored 9 goals and assisted 6 times this season in La Liga.
According to Nacional, Marco Asensio is now ready to leave Real Madrid with his contract up at the end of the season and Arsenal are the team closest to signing the 27-year-old.
Arsenal aren’t the only team interested in the player ahead of next season with European giants AC Milan and PSG also keeping tabs on Asensio, as well as Aston Villa. Unai Emery knows the Real Madrid star well and is also keen to bring him to the Premier League this summer.
He had been struggling for consistent play-time at Madrid until a month ago and has not necessarily found his peak form. Therefore, he may seek a move away from the club to start a fresh chapter in his career.
At 27 years of age, the Spaniard should be in his prime and enjoying the best football of his career, however he hasn’t quite hit the heights at Real Madrid that everyone expected of him when he first joined the club from Mallorca in 2014.
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Asensio and his camp are looking at many options; they want a four-year contract for the player and a wage somewhere similar to his current one at Real Madrid, which is reportedly around £118,000 per week.
Whether Arsenal are willing to meet their demands or not is yet to be seen however, they are interested in the player and will negotiate to find a suitable agreement for both parties.
Arsenal are seeking out for players to add depth to their squad. In the January transfer window Arsenal failed to sign two out of their three primary targets, Mykhailo Mudryk and Moises Caicedo, but they did find suitable alternatives in Leandro Trossard and Jorginho respectively.
Declan Rice remains Arsenal’s number one target this summer, however the Gunners are also after a back-up to Bukayo Saka as well as defensive reinforcements ahead of a return to the Champions League next season. Arsenal narrowly missed out on the Premier League title due to a lack of squad depth and Mikel Arteta is determined to make sure the same doesn’t happen in 2023/24.
Bukayo Saka featured in every Premier League game for Arsenal in 2022/23 which isn’t sustainable, proven by the 21-year-old’s drop off in form towards the end of the campaign. Bringing in a player who can provide competition for Saka is a priority for Mikel Arteta this summer and Asensio is one player the Gunners are looking at.
Asensio has experience of playing in a winning team and would also bring vital Champions League experience which Mikel Arteta’s young side is lacking ahead of a return to Europe’s elite next season.
Arsenal have a good relationship with Real Madrid following the deals for Martin Odegaard and Dani Ceballos over recent seasons.
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