Liverpool and Arsenal target Marco Asensio ‘would cost less than £25m this summer’

Real Madrid have asked suitors of forward Marco Asensio to cough up between £21.6million and £25.8m in order to secure his signature this summer, according to reports.

Liverpool, Arsenal and AC Milan have all been credited with an interest in the 26-year-old amid his fall down the pecking order at the Bernabeu, and it now appears he is very much within budget for Europe’s top clubs.

Tuttomercatoweb report that Los Blancos have slapped a price tag of €25-30m on his head – a figure which translates as £21.6m-£25.8m – and if that is matched, they would let him leave for pastures new.

Real Madrid’s Marco Asensio is a wanted man this summer, and he would cost ‘less than £25m’

Asensio (left), in action for Spain last month, has just one year left on his Real Madrid deal

His contract runs out in a year’s time, meaning Florentino Perez is keen to cash in now, in a bid to avoid letting him leave for free on June 30, 2023.

It has also been reported that Asensio is willing to take a pay cut in order to join a ‘convincing project’, which is likely to include more playing time for himself.

Therefore, Liverpool is perhaps less of an attractive offer given Mohamed Salah’s new contract, and their already-formidable front-line under Jurgen Klopp.

Mo Salah has ended his contact stand off with Liverpool, leaving less space for Asensio

Arsenal have fewer attacking options but have just signed Gabriel Jesus from Manchester City, while AC Milan represents the best opportunity for regular game-time.

Asensio is a three-time LaLiga and Champions League winner with Real Madrid, and has played for the Spanish giants 235 times across his six seasons in the capital. 

Last season, he only started 19 matches, with a further 12 coming off the bench in LaLiga.