Marco Asensio would cost Liverpool £25m or so if they want to bring him to Anfield this summer.
That’s according to TUTTOmercatoWEB, who claim that Real Madrid are asking for between £21.6m and £25.8m for the winger.
They also claim that Asensio is willing to take a pay-cut in order to facilitate a move to a ‘convincing project.’ There is said to be interest from AC Milan, but the European Champions would reportedly prefer to sell to a Premier League club, such as Liverpool.
Madrid are reportedly growing impatient with the 26-year-old’s refusal to agree a new deal. Should he fail to extend his contract soon, it’s claimed that he’ll be sold ‘immediately.’
No real downsides for Asensio at this price
The figures being talked about seem very reasonable for a player like Asensio. He may no longer be the enticing prospect that he once was, but he’s still a very good player.
With only one year left on his deal, and negotiations looking complex, perhaps the price will continue to fall. Sport previously reported Liverpool’s interest this summer, but claimed he would cost around £34m.
That would look steep for someone who has a history of injury issues. It also looks more than what Liverpool would usually pay for someone who would be brought in as a back-up player.
However, at this new price, a deal is more palatable.
Asensio can play across the forward line, as well as in midfield, and would provide a naturally left-footed option to rotate with Mohamed Salah.
With a reported salary of £117k-a-week (Salary Sport), he would slot nicely into Liverpool’s existing structure, too.
In short, there doesn’t seem to be too many downsides to bringing in the Spain international. Yes, his style of play doesn’t scream a Jurgen Klopp player, but he’s available, well-priced and proven quality.
Let’s see how this plays out.
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