Jurgen Klopp certainly has one of the best sides in Europe at the moment, so Liverpool have refrained from making any marquee signings so far this summer. One player who has been extensively linked with the Reds is Real Madrid star Marco Asensio.
Having signed a plethora of talent this summer, Zinedine Zidane might have to sell a few players to balance the books or get rid of those who didn’t perform well last season, and Asensio could be one name.
Liverpool are interested in his signature and are willing to pay up to €75 million, but the Spanish outfit want Senegalese star Sadio Mane to be a part of any potential deal to sell Asensio, it has been claimed by Spanish news outfit Eldesmarque.
Do Liverpool need Marco Asensio?
Having joined Real Madrid from Mallorca in 2014, Asensio played his first game for the senior side in 2016 under the current manager Zidane. He became a regular in the next season, making 32 league appearances, but fell down the pecking order last season, making just 19 league starts.
He managed to score just one league goal all season, but did manage four assists and is still a top player.
Capable of playing on either wing, the 23-year old is a technically gifted player who is effective with the ball at his feet. He can dribble past full-backs to put in mean crosses, and can also cut back in the inverted role and test the ‘keeper.
Asensio is not the greatest finisher in the game, but is a real threat in front of goal, thanks to his vision and ability to find the right pass more often than not.
The 23-year old failed to shoulder the responsibilities of a struggling Real Madrid side last season, but when his side are on top, he seems to be a different beast.
The Reds have no real backups for Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane as Xherdan Shaqiri is the only other player who is comfortable playing out wide. So signing Asensio not just adds depth, but will also add competition to the squad which will only make them better.
However, the Spanish youngster is not one to wait patiently and with his quality, deserves to play regularly. So even if the asking price for him is affordable, Asensio might not be the best option for Liverpool this summer transfer window, even more so if Real Madrid don’t chance their stance of wanting Mane in the deal.
However, if Klopp believes that the Real Madrid star can help Liverpool take the next step, then the club should not hesitate on spending big on his signature.
