Liverpool are preparing a £158million bid for Real Madrid winger Marco Asensio, according to Marca.
The Spanish newspaper report that the Reds have been tracking the 22-year-old wide man for several years, and are ready to make him a key man and poster boy at Anfield.
Marca claim that the club would also be willing to make the Spain international one of their highest-paid players, but are yet to submit anything official to Real.
It is said that Real are planning talks with Asensio later this summer, with the youngster eyeing up a more important role at the club after being used mainly from the bench by Zinedine Zidane last season.
Asensio is currently starring at the World Cup for Spain.
Good move for Liverpool?
In footballing terms, yes.
Asensio is a brilliant young player with bags of potential who, as the report claims they intend to, Liverpool could turn into the poster boy of Anfield.
The 22-year-old Spaniard has electric pace, a sublime touch, silky skills and a wand of a left boot, and could become one of the world’s best attacking players in the next couple of years.
The only issue here therefore is money, with £158million looking like a huge chunk of the Reds’ budget splurged on one player, which would be a big risk for the club.
Live 4 Liverpool rating: 8/10
Likely to happen?
Unfortunately, you would think not.
There is little to suggest that Asensio is unhappy at Madrid, and there is little doubt that if Liverpool are serious in their interest, they would have to pay even more than the £158million touted.
Asensio’s release clause reportedly stands at a ridiculous £617million, and Los Blancos will therefore be holding out for a huge fee to part ways with the youngster.
Liverpool have other issues to address this summer, and the probability of them splashing that kind of cash on an attacker is extremely low.
Live 4 Liverpool rating: 1/10
