Of all the clubs looking to do big business this summer, Liverpool will likely be right at the front of the queue.
Their Champions League success, and impressive Premier League campaign last season means more is expected next season. Jurgen Klopp has even promised that they will spend big to achieve their aims.
So far, though, the Reds focus has been on adding to their youth ranks. There’s been little talk of big-money moves. After all, it’s quite tricky to add to a squad that is as talented and settled as their current one.
El Desmarque shake that up today with a big claim, stating that Liverpool are very interested in Marco Asensio this summer.
The Reds have been linked with the Real Madrid man before now, and the Spanish media are insistent upon the story.
And the newspaper backs that up too, claiming that Jurgen Klopp would be willing to pay a figure ‘close to €75m’ for Asensio. He believes the 23-year-old would perfectly complement his squad, particularly if Mohamed Salah ever gets injured.
Unfortunately for Klopp, Zinedine Zidane is standing in the way. He doesn’t want to lose Asensio, as he considers him the ‘best left-footed player he’s seen since Messi’.
Zidane is also said to be unwilling to strengthen a European rival and has told Florentino Perez that if he were to sanction a deal, it would be as part of one bringing Sadio Mane to the Bernabeu.
That presumably puts the final nail in the coffin for this potential move. Zidane seems to have ultimate power at the Bernabeu right now, and if he doesn’t want Asensio to leave, then it won’t happen.
Likewise, Liverpool will be very resistant to selling Sadio Mane, and his long contract at Anfield means they have no need to sell either. If getting Asensio means losing Mane, then they’ll likely turn their attention elsewhere.
