OPINION
There has been a lot of speculation regarding Liverpool’s activity in this transfer window – but the £158million bid they have reportedly made – according to Mundo Deportivo – for Real Madrid midfielder Marco Asensio seems to be the surprising of them all.
The Spanish sports website reports that the Reds like the 22-year-old dazzler ‘very much’ and are keen to land his services for a club-record fee.
However, it is hard to see why Liverpool would even contemplate a hefty fee of £158million for Asensio – it cannot be denied that he is hugely talented player, but at such a high sum, Liverpool should look elsewhere and find a cheaper alternative.
The Spaniard has only scored 11 goals this season despite operating as an attacking midfielder, and he must certainly should be contributing more goals than that to be valued so highly by the Reds.
Tabling such a high bid for a player who is arguably not considered world-class, shows Liverpool’s desire to land the young ace – but they could have gone in with a much lower offer than £158million.
Asensio is considered amongst the best young breakthrough talents in Europe, meaning he has the ability and is good at what he does – but he is definitely not £158 million good.
Being £158million good means you are a player who scores goals for fun despite not operating as a striker, you lay on numerous, important assists for your team mates, and you possess jaw-dropping technical ability that leaves everyone in awe.
Unfortunately for Asensio, he does not lack the above qualities, but they are not up to the standard to warrant such a record-breaking bid from Liverpool.
Obviously, it is not the player’s fault that Klopp’s side has made such an offer. It is just an over-valuation of his services by the Premier League contenders that could lead to an unnecessary sum of money being paid.
Liverpool may be trying to establish themselves as genuine challengers to current champions Manchester City, but making such a bid for a player who is not worth that much may prove to tarnish that.