Arsenal: Marco Asensio the ideal Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain compensation

With Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain seemingly nearing an Arsenal exit, Marco Asensio is increasingly being linked with a move to the Emirates. The Real Madrid starlet would be the perfect compensation for the outgoing Ox.

Losing young players with a bright future is never nice. The questions of ‘what if’ and ‘what might be’ begin circling. Worries of success elsewhere creep in. The frightening truth that you may be watching someone flourish apart from you begins to dawn. That is where Arsenal currently stand with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

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There are some who still question Chamberlain’s quality. They point to his lack of production throughout his young career thus far, highlight his inconsistencies and lack of defined position as reasons to query whether he has the ability to develop into the player that is expected of him. However, while some of those criticisms may have some justification, it is clear that Arsene Wenger does not ascribe to that viewpoint; he is steadfast and bullish in his assessment of Chamberlain’s skills.

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And yet, because of contract complacency and mismanagement, Chamberlain is seemingly nearing a North London exit. The most recent reports suggest that Arsenal have resigned themselves to losing Chamberlain under the threat that he will leave the club for nothing next summer. If true, that is extremely sad.

That is why compensation must be found. An alternative from which joy can be gleaned. Thankfully, as is ever the case with the fantastical world of transfer rumour that we live in, there seems to be a solution to the problem, and it comes in the shape of a truly remarkably gifted young attacker whose opportunities are being sounded out by those more experienced, but not necessarily more accomplished, around him.

Marco Asensio is the natural successor to Cristiano Ronaldo. Skilful, a goalscorer, creative and athletic, he glides past players with a surge of power, silkily slithering his way through tight spaces, slaloming past errant legs and misguided challenges, before having the guile and the precision to produce, whether it be a low, whipped cross, or an incisive, sliding through ball, or a curled, consummate finish.

Reports state that Wenger is willing to match the £72 million release clause in the Spaniard’s contract and there have been equal suggestions that Asensio would consider a move to the Emirates, in the hope that working under Wenger with a regular, entrenched first team position would further his development, his reputation and his career.

And he would be the ideal compensation for the likely departing Chamberlain — even if Chamberlain does not leave this summer, it would be naive to think that he re-signs and stays beyond the expiration of his current contract.

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The likelihood of any deal being completed is extremely slim. Asensio is far from the usual Wenger target. But if there is genuine interest there, then the Real Madrid star does offer a little peace of mind to the troubles that Chamberlain’s impending exit invigorates.