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Arsenal are leading the race to sign Spanish winger Marco Asensio from Real Madrid before the end of the window.
THE LOWDOWN: WINGER SEARCH
Arsenal have been in a dilemma all window, as to which winger to come in and replace flop Nicolas Pepe. Till now, no addition has come in that regard. The likes of Bayern Leverkusen’s Moussa Diaby, PSV’s Cody Gakpo, Crystal Palace’s Micheal Olise and Pedro Neto have been linked with a move to Emirates and Arteta is keen on getting a wingman following Pepe’s loan move to Nice.
Just a few days ago, Chelsea’s Callum Hudson Odoi randomly emerged as another winger the club could turn to as a solution before the window ends. However, it now appears that the option could be from abroad – Spain. Out-of-favour forward Marco Asensio is desperate to leave Madrid in search of first-team football and Arsenal could be his next home.
THE LATEST: ASENSIO TO ARSENAL?
According to The Mirror, Arsenal want Marco Asensio and are ahead of the pack for his signature ahead of the transfer deadline on Thursday.
Wolverhampton Wanderers star Pedro Neto remains the primary name in the frame, but Arsenal could look to raid Real Madrid again after Martin Odegaard’s success.
Arsenal’s sudden interest in Asensio, who recently joined Jorge Mendes’ Gestifute agency – the same agency that manages Neto, could have been facilitated by the super-agent instead of the “expensive” Portuguese.
Asensio, 26, is in the final year of his contract and has not signed an extension with the Los Blancos yet. The Spaniard scored 12 goals in 42 games last season, but he hasn’t quite lived up to his early billing.
It’s believed that Tottenham Hotspur did fancy signing Asensio earlier this summer but they have now cooled their interest and are not expected to make a move before the deadline. Elsewhere, United’s interest is in Ajax winger Antony, who is set to join the Red Devils in a big-money move. That leaves Arsenal as the clear favourites to get the winger who is keen to make a move to the Premier League.
THE VERDICT: DECENT ALTERNATIVE
Arsenal and Mikel Arteta need a winger as Bukayo Saka continues to struggle, as there is no direct replacement for him in the squad at the moment.
However, Arsenal’s pattern of signings has changed a bit and Asensio could be an exception because of the value he brings, being a serial winner with Real Madrid in the past few years.
Arsenal and the Spanish club have done business together before and a deal should not be difficult to negotiate if the links are indeed genuine.
