Arsenal are reportedly prepared to trigger the €80 million release clause in Marco Asensio’s contract to prise him away from Real Madrid.
Spanish publication Don Balon have reported that Arsenal have reignited their long-held interest in Marco Asensio. The Premier League heavyweights are ready to activate the player’s €80 million release clause to sign him from Real Madrid before the transfer window closes.
Asensio is the latest sensational talent to emerge in Spain, with the country producing a bevy of exciting young prospects in the current generation. The player made his big break in the first-team setup at Real Madrid last season, two years after Los Blancos secured his services from Mallorca.
Asensio, though, has stamped his authority for Real Madrid since then, scoring the first and last goal for the club last season, in addition to finding the back of the net 8 other times and providing 4 assists in 38 appearances. He also played a pivotal role for Spain in the under-21 European Championship, where they finished as runners-up.
But, with Asensio not being one of the first names on Zinedine Zidane’s team sheet just yet, several suitors have been fancying their chances of prising him away from the Bernabeu. One club that have been eyeing the Spaniard for a long time are Arsenal.
The Gunners are in a precarious situation as the future of Alexis Sanchez continues to remain up in the air, even though Arsene Wenger has insisted on several occasions that the Chilean is going nowhere this summer.
Nevertheless, with Sanchez no closer to signing a renewal with the North London club, the player’s departure is now more a question of when than if at the present moment.
With Theo Walcott frustrating with his inconsistent performances and Alex Iwobi still some way off becoming a first-team regular, Arsenal are scouring for attacking reinforcements.
Hence, Asensio is a viable target for the Gunners, with his eye for goal, pacy outlet and dribbling ability potentially making him a dangerous proposition for opposition defenders in the Premier League. Arsenal are, thus, ready to trigger his €80 million release clause to make him their record transfer.
However, Asensio is likely to rebuff the North London club’s offer as he does not intend to leave Real Madrid just yet. The player is confident that he will have a more prominent role in Zidane’s side this season, meaning Arsenal will have to set their sights elsewhere for an attacking addition.
