Arsenal

Arsenal

Premier League • England

Mbappe deal tipped to drive Real Madrid forward into Arsenal or Tottenham hands

Real Madrid forwards Marco Asensio and Vinicius Jr.

Real Madrid could be the big winners this summer if signing Kylian Mbappe, though that deal could drive Marco Asensio to Arsenal or Tottenham, per a report.

Los Blancos are the current frontrunners to sign one of the most prized free agents in football history this summer. Mbappe’s contract at PSG expires at season’s end. Varying reports from across the European media have indicated Real Madrid are on pole position at present.

However, despite being a free agent, a deal of that magnitude won’t come cheap.

Factoring in agent’s fees, a huge sign-on fee and Mbappe’s colossal salary, Real will be making a huge financial commitment – even without paying a transfer fee.

As such, Spanish outlet El National report a necessary sacrifice will have to be made in the final third. The man deemed most likely to be axed is Marco Asensio.

The 26-year-old has been at the Bernabeu since arriving from Mallorca in 2014. Asensio has generally been a regular starter under varying managers, but under current boss Carlo Ancelotti, his minutes have been curtailed.

Asensio did start both legs of Real’s Champions League Round of 16 clash with PSG. However, despite Madrid advancing, Asensio was then overlooked for the El Clasico defeat to Barcelona in favour of Rodrygo.

Asensio did not start a single match in the Champions League group stage either. What’s more, his LaLiga starts this term total just 15 from 29 matches.

Asensio won’t accept diminished role

As such, the report concludes Asensio sees the writing on the wall regarding his future at Real. Mbappe’s arrival would lock up one flank, while Karim Benzema is unmoveable at centre-forward. Vinicius Jr. is expected to fill the final spot in the front three.

Asensio is deemed unwilling to accept a bench role and now wishes to seek pastures new. His contract at the Bernabeu expires in 2023, but it’s suggested he’ll seek a move this summer to get ahead of the game. The article also stresses he won’t sign a new deal if one is tabled by Real.

Predictably, interest is reportedly already widespread. From England, Arsenal and Tottenham are both named. From within Spain, Atletico Madrid and Sevilla are mentioned, while Jose Mourinho’s Roma are also in the mix from Italy.

Real will reportedly have no choice but to accept an Asensio sale is their best course of action. If they retain him as a squad player next season, he’ll walk for free the following summer.

A fee of €30m should be enough to seal a deal given his contract status and diminished role. That could represent a bargain for whoever takes the gamble given he remains a potent force when playing regularly.

It’s noted he could yet respect his current contract and see out his final year in Madrid. However, that is not his first priority, and it is also the nightmare scenario of Real supremo Florentino Perez.

Allowing such a saleable asset to walk for free is not the kind of business Perez wishes to conduct.