Marco Asensio’s agents are in London to discuss with Arsenal about a potential summer transfer of the 27-year-old from Real Madrid.
The Spaniard’s time at the Santiago Bernabeu seems to have come to an end after it emerged that there is no path to a contract renewal for the once highly-coveted forward.
He was one of the players touted to leave the club in the January transfer window but Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti insisted on finishing the season with the players he started it with, hence the general lack of business by Real Madrid in the just-concluded window.
Asensio, however, continues to be important to Madrid and is greatly counted on by Ancelotti. The club, however, think he has run his course after almost a decade at the club. It is understood that they are going to make a final decision in March on whether to offer him a new contract or to let him go for free.
In the meantime, the player’s agents have travelled to London to initiate talks with Arsenal. It turns out that Mikel Arteta is a fan of the player and suggested him as a potential transfer option for the summer, leading Edu Gaspar to make contact with them and invite them over to discuss a potential move.
The player’s agents are looking to secure a four-year deal with Arsenal and any interested club (including Real Madrid, if they choose to enter into talks with the player) and an increase on his current £118,000-a-week wage. This will be front and centre of their negotiations with Arsenal’s transfer business team, led by sporting director Edu Gaspar.
Asensio has been a squad player for most of his time at Madrid, just falling a tier below the players that have become known as the first XI. Madrid president Florentino Perez has claimed, however, that he is a fan of the player and would like to see him remain at the club for longer.
He is currently getting a good run of minutes in the side, even scoring a brilliant goal from outside the box against Valencia to keep pressure on league leaders Barcelona.
At Arsenal, he will demand more minutes but with Bukayo Saka occupying the role he plays in at the club, it could be a fierce battle.
Arsenal seem to have given up on record signing Nicolas Pepe and will look to move him on in the summer. The Spaniard will make a good replacement for the Ivory Coast international and will bring some much needed big match and big tournament experience to the side if both parties should agree a deal.
His current form for Madrid could also play a role in getting him the deal he wants. He is expected to be a key part of the squad going forward and if he performs excellently for the rest of the season, he could be getting a huge sign-on bonus and his desired wages.
