Transfer News: Chelsea target Real Madrid winger Marco Asensio as Eden Hazard alternative
According to Spanish outlet Defensa Central (h/t football.london), Chelsea have identified Real Madrid winger Marco Asensio as a potential transfer target, with the forward likely to leave the Spanish giants.
The Blues have been in the transfer market this month as they look for players who can provide width to the squad, and had identified Asensio’s teammate Eden Hazard as a transfer option. However, the player now seems unlikely to make a return to Stamford Bridge.
Asensio was linked with a move to Stamford Bridge in the past, with reports ahead of the 2017/18 season that the Blues had retained an interest in the Spain international. This time around, Chelsea will hope that they are able to convince him to move to west London.
The 26-year-old has seen limited game time at the Bernabeu this season, starting only 11 of 32 games in all competitions. Reports suggest that Asensio and Barcelona’s Ousmane Dembele are on Chelsea’s shortlist of attacking options this month. Blues boss Thomas Tuchel has prior experience working with Dembele from their time together at Borussia Dortmund.
Chelsea have not had a great time in front of goal this term, with their available attacking options not proving to be clinical enough. In Asensio, they have someone who has been relatively productive in attack, with seven goals so far this season despite his limited opportunities.
The chase for Asensio is certainly interesting, as Chelsea seek to beat London rivals Arsenal to the Spaniard’s signature. The Gunners have on many occasions been linked with Asensio, are said to also have earmarked the winger as one of their primary transfer targets as they look to reinforce their squad with attacking outlets.
Chelsea fans will rue the way their season has taken shape up until now. After a blistering start to the campaign and mounting a title race alongside Manchester City and Liverpool, we have fallen behind our rivals after a string of draws since December. It will not surprise anyone that our loss in form is attributed to the poor showing in front of the goal.
Often this season, we have looked frustrated and out of ideas up front, with players unable to break down opposition defences. Signing Asensio may answer some of these problems, with the winger preferring to play on the front foot and take defenders on, playing in a much more direct manner.
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It is interesting that another name from Spain in Ousmane Dembele has also cropped up as a Blues target, with Tuchel’s prior working experience with him turning out to be a factor in aiming to sign the Frenchman.
However, Asensio has a better track record when it comes to injuries than Dembele, and is also more versatile and fluid in attack, taking up any one of the front three forward positions. It certainly makes for a curious watch to see which player the club eventually chooses to target.