Real Madrid right winger Marco Asensio could be headed out the door in the summer transfer window. Asensio and Real are in the midst of contract extension discussions, but two things are starting to become clear. Firstly, Asensio isn’t good enough to start for Madrid. Secondly, if Asensio wants to be paid like a starter and make more than what Real are offering, the Merengues should have no interest in meeting his demands.
Asensio has scored eight goals in LaLiga this season. Despite his clear flaws as a creator, dribbler, and defender, his goal-scoring and ability to net wondergoals from range will make him attractive to other clubs around Europe.
Here are five potential transfer destinations for Marco Asensio if Real Madrid decide they are better off trying to sell the 26-year-old for 30 million euros or so.
Milan
AC Milan stand out as the most likely landing spot for Marco Asensio in the early going. They have interest in keeping Real Madrid loanee Brahim Diaz on the wing, but it doesn’t seem like they want to meet the asking price the clubs had agreed to initially. Brahim is also more valuable to Real than Asensio, given he is more versatile.
Asensio would be a great fit for Serie A. He would get more space to shoot, and his lack of speed and defensive effort may not be exposed as much in the more attacking league (no, Serie A is no longer just about rugged defending). Milan like to rotate players and have a versatile attack. Asensio could bring a different dimension.
Would Milan spend enough money to sign Asensio in terms of his wages and transfer fee? That may hinge on how badly Paolo Maldini wants to bring in the Andalusian attacker.
Arsenal
Arsenal have been among the teams linked to the experienced Real Madrid forward. They already found a great deal of success signing a Madrid attacking midfielder last summer in Martin Odegaard, though Odegaard is obviously on a different level in terms of his leadership, creativity, footballing IQ (even though he is younger), and all-around play.
That said, Asensio can be an asset in a few ways. It is also easier to score from distance in the Premier League than in LaLiga, and game-changing goals are always in demand. Just look at Philippe Coutinho. Asensio can be the left-footed threat from the right-hand side that the Gunners wanted Nicolas Pepe to be from Lille.
Asensio is not dynamic, but he is a good crosser and a great shooter. If the price is right, Arsenal could sign him. They have the money and may be interesting in a reclamation project. At worst, Asensio would be an adequate player for them and an upgrade on many of their players in terms of goal-scoring.
Sevilla
A transfer within LaLiga could make sense for Marco Asensio. Both he and Isco have a great relationship together, as they are dubbed the “Pishabros”. There is a lot of smoke linking Isco with a move to Sevilla, where he would reunite with Julen Lopetegui. Sevilla could sign him for free this summer, and that would be a great signing.
But I would not rule out Sevilla signing two Real Madrid attacking midfielders, even if they already have a lot of pieces in place with the likes of Papu Gomez, for example. Asensio, at the right price, could be a great opportunity for Lopetegui. Although he is weak in certain areas, his goal-scoring and proven track record in LaLiga could make him the exact signing Sevilla like to take a chance on. As we saw with Anthony Martial, a far less productive player, Sevilla are not against taking gambles in the transfer market with big names.
PSG
The final two landing spots for Marco Asensio are not as realistic as the other three, in the sense that they may be too good for the No. 11. Asensio is currently at the highest level possible as a Real Madrid player, but it may be better for him to move to a team that is fighting to stay in the top four, such as Arsenal or Sevilla, as compared to a team like PSG that aspires to win the Champions League.
But a team like PSG could very much use Asensio if he is OK with not being a starter. They need role players who offer something different, and, again, Asensio brings goals. Ligue 1 is home to spectacular strikes from distance, and Asensio could light up the highlight reels for a club that will want to play the most high-flying possible in order to keep its marketing potential high in a league that otherwise holds little interest.
Money is never an issue with PSG. They would love nothing more than to sign someone from Real Madrid and watch him have more success in Paris than in the Spanish capital. As for Madrid, they have no personal problems with PSG or selling someone to the Qatari-owned club for a profit. They are not petty like Nasser Al-Khelaifi or Leonardo.
Liverpool
Liverpool are the least logical landing spot of these five, but they are frequently linked to Asensio in the transfer rumor mill. The Reds already signed a much better winger this winter in Luis Diaz, who was surprisingly not snapped up after being the actual best player at Copa America (with all due respect to legends Lionel Messi and Neymar).
Diaz has been worth the money. Liverpool already have Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, as well as Diogo Jota. More goal-scoring depth, however, couldn’t hurt. Again, if the price is right, Asensio could be someone the Reds go after if they feel like they can find the right fit for him.
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That is tough envisioning in Jurgen Klopp’s scheme. Would Asensio press? Can he carry the ball? How would he work with the other members of the front three? Could Liverpool hide his weaknesses? I do not see a fit here, but you never know what Klopp decides. He has made less likely signings work, as he is one of football’s most flexible managers and biggest visionaries.