Felipe
Aston Villa want to sign Real Madrid forward Marco Asensio and will offer a lucrative alternative to extending his time in Spain. The 27-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and wants to prolong his stay but until a decision has been made, Villa continue to monitor the situation closely.
Manager Unai Emery is keen on bolstering his attacking line and sees Asensio as a player who can significantly improve the team. The incoming Mateu Alemany, who leaves his job as director of football at Barcelona on July 1, is also on board with the pursuit, as first reported by the Spanish publication Marca.
Asensio is a client of the representative, Jorge Mendes, who Villa have a strong relationship with through Emery and the co-owner Nassef Sawiris. A large chunk of Villa’s recruitment this summer will be from Spain. Asensio is just one of the players on the list, but his preference, it’s understood, is to stay at Real Madrid, and the hold-up on extending his deal is down to some of the terms under discussion.
The club who are pushing for a top-six finish are also prepared to increase the wage bill as part of their ambitious plans. Asensio came off the bench for Real Madrid in the 1-1 draw with Manchester City in the Champions League semi-final first leg on Tuesday. He’s made 46 appearances this season in all competitions, scoring eight goals and registering six assists.