Arsenal favourites to sign Marco Asensio as Man Utd prioritise Antony transfer

James Shearman

• Updated: 28 Aug 2022 21:51 BST
• 3 min read

Marco Asensio’s Real Madrid future is up in the air with just a week left in the transfer window, as Arsenal and Manchester United show interest in the player.

The Spaniard is out of contract at the end of the season, so Madrid are open to getting a transfer fee while they still can.

Asensio has rarely featured for Los Blancos this season – playing just eight minutes in their three matches thus far – and that could remain the case for the rest of the season.

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Coach Carlo Ancelotti has also confirmed that Asensio is looking for a way out of the club in the coming days so that he can get regular football.

"I don't know what will happen. He is looking at something to see if he can leave. If he doesn't leave, from September 1 he will be a Real Madrid player, 100 percent," the Italian coach said.

Antony to Man Utd helps Asensio to Arsenal?

Erik ten Hag's first-choice attacking target Antony is close to reuniting with the Dutch boss at Manchester United.

Antony has refused to play for Ajax as he nears an £85 million move to the Premier League, having starred in the Eredivisie.

This should put an end to United's interest in Asensio, an alternative to the Brazilian for the right-wing position. This makes Arsenal clear favourites to sign Asensio.

While Gabriel Martinelli has hit the ground running for the Premier League leaders this season and Bukayo Saka is widely regarded as one of the best wingers in the division, Arsenal require more depth on the flanks.

And Asensio would provide some welcome competition for places, with Nicolas Pepe having been allowed to return to France on loan with Nice.

The 26-year-old would also offer experience of winning trophies to the north London side, similar to the additions of Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko from Manchester City earlier in the window.