Report reveals ‘big target’ who rejected Tottenham last month
Premier League side Tottenham had a move for Marco Asensio scuppered by the Real Madrid player, according to reports in Spain.
The Spain international has not played as much football as he would’ve liked since breaking into the Real Madrid in 2016 after a loan spell at Espanyol.
Last season, Asensio managed his most La Liga starts in a season with the 25-year-old starting 21 matches, while he still came off the bench in another 14 games.
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And, with Asensio in and out the team under Zinedine Zidane, Julen Lopetegui and Santiago Solari during his time at Real, there were rumours that he could leave in the summer transfer window.
Spanish publication Marca (via Sport Witness) claim that Tottenham and AC Milan were interested in Asensio with both sides ‘looking to strengthen’ in the summer market.
It was understood that Spurs’ ‘big target’ was Asensio but that the attacking midfielder turned them down as he wanted to fight for his place in Madrid.
Nuno Espirito Santo wanted to make Asensio one of his ‘main offensive references’ at Tottenham after losing Gareth Bale, whose loan from Real expired at the end of last season.
Meanwhile, former Premier League striker Kevin Phillips thinks wantaway Tottenham star Harry Kane will snub a new contract and try to leave again next summer.
Phillips told Football Insider: “I heard what he said and yeah, reading between the lines, you would say Daniel Levy has broken a gentleman’s agreement. If Kane is sleeping easy at night he is obviously laying the blame somewhere else.
“We don’t know the facts but to hear that from Harry says a lot. I’m pretty sure he is hinting toward a gentlemen’s agreement being broken.
“Harry may not be happy about it but he won’t throw his toys out of the pram. He will knuckle down and do what he does best which is score goals.
“We will see what happens come the summer. I don’t see him signing a new deal. I think he’ll be angling for a move again next summer. I’d be very surprised if he extended.”
