Real Madrid target Nigeria star as Asensio replacement

Stuart Telford

• 6 Jun 2023 15:29 BST
• 3 min read

Real Madrid are reportedly ready to launch a bid for Villarreal winger Samuel Chukwueze now that Marco Asensio has left for PSG.

The winds of change are sweeping through the Santiago Bernabeu this summer, with Karim Benzema, Eden Hazard and Mariano Diaz joining Asensio in leaving Madrid on free transfers.

Benzema has an offer from Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad on the table, while Asensio is set to disappoint Barcelona among others to sign a four-year contract at the Parc des Princes, nominally as a replacement for Lionel Messi.

READ: PSG have already found Lionel Messi REPLACEMENT

With Asensio gone, Real want to add a wide man to a stable of wingers that includes Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Federico Valverde, and Chukwueze has caught their eye.

"Real Madrid will contact Villareal to sign Nigerian winger Samuel Chukwueze, 24, as a replacement for Marco Asensio," reports transfer journalist Ekrem Konur, variously found in ESPN and Marca.

Chukwueze's Madrid star-turn

Chukwueze, a left-footed winger who tends to line up on the right, scored twice for Villarreal as the Yellow Submarine beat Real 3-2 at the Bernabeu in April, igniting talk that he could be Madrid-bound at the end of the season.

READ: Samuel Chukwueze's FootballTransfers profile

Real face competition for the Nigerian's signature, however, with his former Villarreal manager Unai Emery interested in being reunited with Chukwueze at Aston Villa.

Chukwueze is currently valued at €18 million by FootballTransfers' in-house algorithm, although Villarreal are likely to demand more than that given the competition for his services - even if he only has one more year left on his contract at the Estadio de la Ceramica.

Chukwueze had 24 goal-involvements across all competitions in the 2022/23 campaign, and has averaged three successful take-ons per 90 minutes played over the last year. Stylistically, he has drawn comparisons with former Madrid winger Arjen Robben.