OPINION
Tottenham have been strongly linked with a move for long-term target Ross Barkley from Everton, but should ditch those plans and line up a move for Real Madrid sensation Marco Asensio.
The Gambling Times report that Spurs are weighing up a move for Barkley in January after previously failing to sign him in the past.
It is understood that Everton will demand £20million for the signing of the 24-year-old England international.
However, Spurs should scrap ideas to land the inconsistent Barkley that has still not settled on his best position and instead be drawn to the latest reports coming out of Spain.
Spanish outlet Diario Gol claim that wonderkid Asensio has issued an ultimatum to Madrid about his future and threatened to leave the Bernabeu.
It is understood that the 21-year-old has informed the La Liga giants he will force a move away from the club if they sign transfer target Eden Hazard from Chelsea.
The future of the Spain international certainly remains unclear and Mauricio Pochettino should be scheming a move to land one of the best young talents in world football.
Spurs may have to wait until next summer to potentially launch a bid, but this is simply one player they can’t miss out on if he becomes available.
Asensio is a left-footed genius that has broken into the Madrid first team and usually operates as a winger.
The versatile attacker can play comfortably across any position of the frontline and the fleet-footed has a real eye for goal.
He has already netted some fabulous strikes during his time with Madrid and scored seven goals in 23 games across all competitions this season.
Asensio is being tipped to go right to the top of world football and at 21 he is already an integral part of Zinedine Zidane’s squad at Madrid.