Manchester United lead race for ‘extraordinary’ player Arsenal want to sign

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Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United are leading the race for Arsenal transfer target and Real Madrid winger Marco Asensio, according to Mundo Deportivo.

The report has claimed that Madrid star Asensio, also linked with Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, has offers from outside Spain, with Manchester United and Juventus leading the race.

The 26-year-old is out of contract at La Liga and UEFA Champions League winners Madrid in the summer of 2023, and that he will speak to Los Blancos about his situation soon.

Asensio wants to play regularly in the opening months of next season to turn out for Spain at the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar, but Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti cannot guaranteed him that, according to the report.

Ancelotti described the Spain international as “a player with extraordinary quality” in AS in April 2022.

It was also in April 2022 that Calciomercato.it reported interest from Arsenal and AC Milan in Asensio, adding that the Gunners were leading the race for the three-time La Liga and three-time Champions League winner.

Manchester United interest in Marco Asensio blow for Arsenal

In our view, Manchester United’s interest in Marco Asensio is a blow for Arsenal.

Now, of course, both United and Arsenal are big clubs and neither will play in the UEFA Champions League next season.

Arsenal, though, have a settled team, while Ten Hag will likely make changes to the United side now that he is the new manaer.

Asensio is likely to go straight into the United starting lineup if he moves to Old Trafford, while he will have to fight for his place at Arsenal.