Tottenham Hotspur among favourites to sign Real Madrid's Marco Asensio in January

Tottenham Hotspur are 12/5 to sign the 21-year-old, for whom Manchester United were linked with a £177 million bid earlier this year.

TOPSHOT - Real Madrid's Spanish midfielder Marco Asensio celebrates after scoring their fourth goal during the UEFA Champions League final football match between Juventus and Real Madrid...

Tottenham Hotspur are listed among the favourites to sign Real Madrid winger Marco Asensio in January.

Bookmakers Ladbrokes have made Spurs 12/5 for the Spaniard’s signature, behind Manchester United [5/4] and Chelsea [2/1] but above Arsenal [4/1] and Liverpool [6/1].

Tottenham are believed to want to strengthen in Asensio’s position, with Lyon’s Maxwel Cornet the latest linked [Daily Mirror].

Lyon's Ivorian midfielder Maxwel Cornet celebrates on the pitch after the UEFA Europa League Group E match between Everton and Lyon at Goodison Park, in Liverpool on October 19, 2017.

The 21-year-old has appeared in all but five of Real Madrid’s fixtures in 2017-18 – missing four of those through injury – but has only made 12 starts so far.

Spanish website Don Balon – whose reputation is not the best – reported in November that Manchester United were preparing to offer £177 million for Asensio, plus a weekly wage of £461,000, which if true could leave Tottenham with an uphill battle should they decide to pursue a deal for the eight-cap Spain international.

Gareth Bale of Real Madrid CF salutes ballboys from the substitutes bench before the Copa del Rey, Round of 32, Second Leg match between Real Madrid and Fuenlabrada at Estadio Santiago...