Arsenal are positioning the club to sign Olympic finalist Marco Asensio from Real Madrid as Mikel Arteta looks to improve his midfield creativity this summer, per Calciomercato.
The Gunners boss is desperate to strengthen his creative weapons at the Emirates Stadium ahead of the Premier League season. Arsenal visit Brentford to open the new campaign on August 13, before a London derby at home to rivals Chelsea.
Arteta will want Arsenal’s new recruits to have a big impact in the capital next term after finishing 2020/21 eighth. The Gunners also boasted the ninth-most productive record with 55 goals, fewer than all sides above them in the table.
Arsenal are exploring a deal to sign Leicester playmaker James Maddison, per Sky Sports. The Sun also note Lyon’s Houssem Aouar is holding out for a move to the Emirates, where club staff remain interested in a return for Real Madrid’s Martin Odegaard, per ESPN.
But Arteta also has his eyes on another Galactico, it seems, as Calciomercato now claim Arsenal admire Asensio, as well. The 25-year-old is starting to establish a market for himself this summer with his performances at the Olympics, having helped Spain reach the final.
Luis de la Fuente’s side will face Brazil for their first golden medal since the 1992 Games on Saturday afternoon. Spain last medalled at a Games in Australia back in 2000, when they finished as runners-up to Cameroon.
Asensio played a key role in Spain reaching the Olympics final, after scoring the winner over Japan in the semi-final. The £125,000-per-week star lashed home past Kosei Tani’s in the 115th-minute, having also assisted Mikel Oyarzabal to beat Australia 1-0 in the group stage.
Arsenal eye Spain and Real Madrid game-changer Asensio
Real Madrid maestro Asensio’s efforts for Spain have seemingly caught Arsenal’s attention as Arteta searches for a new playmaker. The 25-year-old has been a leading light of De La Fuente’s plans in Japan, after a solid La Liga campaign.
He offered five goals and two assists in 35 appearances under Zinedine Zidane, starting 21. The 26-cap international also featured in all but one of Los Blancos’ Champions League ties on route to the semi-finals. He further scored against Atalanta and Liverpool, too.
Now, Asensio is taking on the role of being Spain’s Olympic game-changer, and showing Arsenal what he could offer. And the midfielder is not backing down from leading the team.
“I always try to make the difference,” Asensio said, via Defensa Central, after the Olympic semi-final against Japan. “In the end, who plays at the beginning is decided by the coach, obviously where I like to be is on the field. But if I start on the bench and have minutes, I want to take advantage of them, as I always do.”
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