Report: Arsenal could land 'one of the best counter-attacking players in the world' for just £31m

By Giuseppe Labellarte

Arsenal have been linked with Real Madrid’s Marco Asensio in recent months.

Now, Corriere dello Sport have reported that the Gunners – or any other suitors – could land him for just £30million.

Arsenal are apparently vying against the likes of Manchester United, Juventus and AC Milan for Asensio.

The Gunners could do with bolstering their attacking ranks and also bring in more support in midfield.

Asensio can play in central midfield, at No. 10, and on the attacking flanks.

The Spain international is out of contract at the Bernabeu next summer.

Corriere claims Real tried to offer Asensio a new contract, but they didn’t convince him to pen fresh terms.

This means they’d have to sell the attacking ace this summer, or risk losing him for little to nothing next year.

Corriere explain that while, they won’t sell on the cheap, Real ‘know they cannot ask for more than €30-35m’.

This works out as £26m-£31m and is described as an amount Premier League clubs ‘can spend with their eyes closed’.

A separate Corriere report – via Sport Witness – claims Arsenal are ‘very keen to take Asensio’ to the Emirates.

At Arsenal, he could work under fellow Spaniard Mikel Arteta.

‘Extraordinary’ serial winner

Asensio, who Carlo Ancelotti has deemed “extraordinary“, enjoyed a fruitful season last time out.

He registered 12 goals and two assists from 42 appearances in all competitions in 2021-22.

Asensio, who reportedly has a £592.5million release clause, won three trophies last term.

He lifted the La Liga title, the Champions League, and the Spanish Super Cup.

Arsenal have dealt with Real before, signing Martin Odegaard last summer after a loan spell.

The Gunners also had Dani Ceballos on loan from the Bernabeu for two seasons.

“He’s dynamic”

Real Madrid commentator and journalist Phil Kitromilides waxed lyrical about Asensio back in 2017.

“When you describe a player as being ‘vertical’ in English,” Kitromilides told Bleacher Report, “it doesn’t convey quite the same meaning that it does in Spanish.

“Asensio is vertical. He’s dynamic. He’s one of the best counter-attacking players in the world.

“Not only is he quick, but he’s very good at dribbling very quickly with the ball as well.

“He seems to have an understanding of when to give a pass on the counter-attack.”