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Arsenal linked with a move for Real Madrid star Marco Asensio

By Ritayan Chatterjee on August 26, 2022

Arsenal are reportedly contemplating a late move to sign Real Madrid’s versatile winger Marco Asensio, as per the Mirror.

The Gunners are actively looking to sign a new wide attacker before the transfer window closes next week and they have already been linked with a number of players, while Asensio’s name is the latest addition on that list.

The Mirror suggests that Arsenal may launch a late move to sign the Spanish international after seeing him frozen out of Carlo Ancelotti’s side at the instruction of president Florentino Perez.

The newspaper cites the print version of El Confidencial as saying that Asensio has angered Los Blancos hierarchy by refusing to sign a contract extension – with his current deal in it’s final year – so he’s been axed from the first team squad.

According to the Mirror, the situation could put Arsenal on alert as they’ve been linked with Asensio for some time. However, the report says the 26-year-old isn’t Mikel Arteta’s top target as Pedro Neto is seemingly the player Arsenal are prioritising at this stage.

Wolves are reluctant to lose the Portuguese winger though and have slapped a big price-tag on his head, so that stumbling block could force Arsenal to look elsewhere and Asensio has emerged as a realistic alternative.

Asensio to Arsenal

Asensio was deemed to be one of the best young talents in the world during his early days at Real Madrid, but things didn’t pan out well for the 26-year-old at the Spanish capital and injury has been one of the reasons behind that.

The Spain international has struggled to find regular first-team action at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu in recent years, making only 19 starts last season in La Liga.

So, I think, although Asensio would be the easiest option to sign among other names who are linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium, the Spaniard isn’t the type of player that Arteta would prefer to deploy on the flanks.

The Gunners boss wants dynamic wingers in his squad who can press the opposition higher up the field, but Asensio doesn’t have that dynamism and also lacks the necessary pace to find success in the Premier League, playing on the wings.

Therefore, although he is a talented player who can still find his form elsewhere if he were to leave Real Madrid this summer, I think Arsenal shouldn’t consider signing him and focus on other targets to bolster their flanks.