Jurgen Klopp has personally requested that Liverpool sign Marco Asensio this summer to complete his attack ahead of the start of the 2022/23 Premier League season.
It’s exactly one month until the first Premier League matchweek of the new season and reports continue to suggest Liverpool’s transfer business is not done yet.
Sporting director Julian Ward has already completed some remarkable work in his new role and he could add Marco Asensio to the ranks if reports art to be believed.
The Wednesday edition of Spanish daily SPORT (via Sport Witness) reports that “Liverpool like Asensio.”
AC Milan have apparently cooled their interest in the forward which has prompted Asensio to “looks favourably” on a move to Anfield.
Jurgen Klopp has routinely improved attackers under his management, developing Roberto Firmino from an attacking midfielder into the best false nine in the world at his prime, transforming Sadio Mane into a forward feared across Europe while Mohamed Salah has been the best right wing in the Premier League since arriving at Liverpool.
At 26, Asensio is at a major crossroads in his career.
On one hand, he could opt for a move that pays him significantly more than the £117,000 a week (£468,000/month) he earns at the Santiago Bernabeu.
On the other, he could make an ambitious move and join a side like Liverpool, earn wages befitting of his talent but that also reflects his stalling career at Real Madrid.
Klopp could, if Liverpool’s interest is genuine, turn Asensio into a world class player and make good on the Spaniard’s huge potential.
On his day, the left-footed forward is a wizard capable of producing moments of magic to unlock defences and score goals from unbelievable angles and ranges.
However, whether or not he is up to the test that the Premier League poses to newcomers is unclear.
A player leaving Real Madrid is always highly scrutinised and joining Liverpool would only serve to heighten the expectations that would be placed on his next move.
There may not even be room for Asensio at Liverpool as Mohamed Salah has just signed a new contract and will be the no.1 option at right wing until he leaves.
Asensio is unlikely to be willing to accept a bench role after watching on from the sidelines for most of the last few seasons at Real Madrid.
Yet, Klopp has a way of convincing players that they are valued even in spite of reduced playing time.
That argument may not be as strong as it used to be due to Divock Origi and Takumi Minamino leaving but with so much football to play for top Premier League clubs and Liverpool’s lack of depth on the wings, Asensio would still play a lot of minutes for the Reds.
With the arrival of Thiago in 2020, Fabio Carvalho’s arrival this summer and reports linking Liverpool with the likes of Gavi and Asensio, Klopp may turn to a more technical, possession based style moving forward.
Of course, the German is unlikely to ever stray completely away from his heavy-metal style of play but to remain at the top, Liverpool need a sustainable way of playing and retaining possession and pinning sides in their own halves is a surefire route to success.
Signing the Real Madrid star would give Liverpool an attack that would feature Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota, Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, Fabio Carvalho and Asensio.
