ESPN pundit Shaka Hislop has urged Tottenham to sign Marco Asensio after the London club was linked with a move for the Real Madrid attacker.
Spanish news outlet El Confidencial has reported that Spurs are plotting a potential bid worth over £88.3million to sign Asensio, 23, in the summer as Real Madrid could be tempted to offload him if they sign either Neymar or Kylian Mbappe.
Former Newcastle and West Ham goalkeeper Hislop believes that the Spain international would be a superb addition to Mauricio Pochettino’s squad, even though he is likely to cost a lot of cash.
“You’d be looking at an awful lot for a player who burst onto the scenes, looking like nobody could stop him,” Hislop said, as quoted by the Express via their live transfer blog on Sunday [10:40am].
“Just one league goal to bolster this last campaign.
“Listen, I think this makes a whole lot of sense for Spurs if you can get the job done.
“Yes, it will cost an awful lot of money but I think he will be a perfect fit at Spurs.
“Again, the question is what do Real Madrid have in their own plans in the long term?
“I really feel it’s too early in the summer to really start to get a feel as to what they’re thinking.”
OPINION
Asensio has not had an amazing season at the Bernabeu, as Hislop pointed out, but who actually did play that well for Real Madrid this season? They have been terrible but one bad campaign does not mean that players like Asensio are not good enough for Tottenham, he is one of the better young attackers in European football. It would cost an arm and a leg to lure him to North London in the summer but there is no doubt that Asensio would be a major upgrade for Spurs and really help Mauricio Pochettino improve his squad. Tottenham have reached the Champions League final but in the league and domestic cup competitions they have gone a bit backwards if anything. Their journey to Madrid is a bit of a one-off and they have just about got their by the skin of their teeth. It should not deflect from the fact that this squad needs massive improvements and Asensio is someone who can do that.