Arsenal: Marco Asensio story chops off its own head
By Josh Sippie
![BARCELONA, SPAIN - AUGUST 13: Marco Asensio of Real Madrid CF celebrates after scoring his team's third goal during the Supercopa de Espana Supercopa Final 1st Leg match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid at Camp Nou on August 13, 2017 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) BARCELONA, SPAIN - AUGUST 13: Marco Asensio of Real Madrid CF celebrates after scoring his team's third goal during the Supercopa de Espana Supercopa Final 1st Leg match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid at Camp Nou on August 13, 2017 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/b207c8d109a73311d38dc8096f08d70d80df1de5d0a01827dfbe8b7aea177f81.jpg)
Arsenal’s transfer business may be over, but that won’t stop stupid stories from popping up and this Marco Asensio story is as stupid as they get.
Sometimes you just need a good nonsensical Arsenal transfer rumor to help you forget about all the real ones that didn’t work out (Thomas Lemar). I have been avoiding writing about this Marco Asensio story because I had hoped it would just go away, but it’s hanging around and people are getting their hopes up so I feel it is my obligation to weigh in.
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This is a stupid story. There is no sense in it. You want to know why? Because the same Don Balon report that says that the Gunners are willing to activate Asensio’s £72, release clause also indicates that Asensio isn’t interested in leaving Real Madrid.
I could stop writing right now. My case has been made, proven and vindicated. There is nothing to see here, these are not the droids you are looking for, move along.
But I can say more. Real Madrid don’t want to lose Asensio either, as he is growing to be a bigger and bigger part of their set up. So now you have two pieces of the puzzle that don’t want the move to happen, even with the release clause factor, which Asensio doesn’t want to have activated.
The third piece is Arsenal. Who are supposedly willing to fork up £72m to activate his release clause. Arsenal. £72.
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Do you see what I’m getting at here? Another reason why this is a rubbish story. Asensio is a growing talent that would be a wonderful asset to any team he happens to end up on, but the Gunners currently don’t have a need for him, as Alexis Sanchez is still here and they only have two weeks left in the transfer window.
Meaning that they would be spending £72m preemptively on a player that is supposed to replace a guy that we still have. So he would be a back up until then.
It’s the same argument I used for Thomas Lemar. As long as Alexis is here, there won’t be any big time acquisition like Asensio, Lemar or Julian Draxler. And if you expect Wenger to offload all of the dead weight we already have and also sell Alexis Sanchez en route to buying Asensio for a massive price tag all in the span of two weeks, you’re crazy.
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So next time you see an “update” on the story, ask yourself these important questions. First question: Does Asensio want to move? No. Second question: Does Arsenal need him as it stands? No. Bonus question: Does Real Madrid want to lose him? No. Okay then. Good speaking with you.