Reports stemming from Spain suggest Manchester United are looking at a Real Madrid forward this summer.
Spanish outlet Sport report that Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag is chasing Real Madrid star Marco Asensio, who this season took Gareth Bale’s No.11 shirt and featured on the right-wing for Los Blancos.
Both Chelsea and Serie A champions AC Milan are said to be interested in the player, too.
Little further detail is given regarding any sort of transfer fee or whether or not Real Madrid would be willing to sell.
However, it is worth pointing out that Asensio’s current contract with Los Blancos expires in the summer of 2023, meaning Madrid may be better served selling him this summer instead of losing him on a free next year.
Furthermore, though the 26-year-old featured 42 times for Real across 2021/22 – scoring 12 and assisting two whilst doing so – he did not complete 90 minutes too often and Carlo Ancelotti often preferred to call upon Federico Valverde to fill in on the right-wing in the bigger games, including against Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool in the Champions League.
Would Asensio improve Manchester United?
Very much so yes. The Red Devils have limited attacking options heading into the new campaign for various reasons, with Jadon Sancho currently United’s only natural right-winger.
Signing someone of Asensio’s quality and versatility, though, would prevent that, allowing Sancho to also be deployed from the left-wing, where he was impressive for Borussia Dortmund on numerous occasions.
On top of providing cover on the flank, the Spaniard could rotate with Bruno Fernandes, who is United’s only no.10-style player now Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard are gone.
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