This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…
Speaking on Match of the Day, Alan Shearer has urged Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford to improve his “killer instinct”.
What did he say?
The England international had endured a miserable start to the current campaign, going on a run of just one goal in seven Premier League matches at one point.
His form had started to pick up in recent games, scoring against Liverpool, Norwich and Chelsea in quick succession. However, the 22-year-old suffered a poor afternoon against Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon, registering no shots on target as United slumped to a 1-0 defeat.
Now, Shearer has demanded Rashford learn to sniff out chances in the box, and score more goals within the width of the penalty area.
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He said (as quoted by The Manchester Evening News): “They were chasing the game, particularly in the second half. You’ve got (Anthony) Martial and Rashford, the guys you’re looking at to get you back into the game, not one of them in the box, both in a similar position. The ball can’t go in the box because there is nobody in the box so that was a little bit easier for Bournemouth than it should be.
“If Rashford wants to score more goals and I’m sure he does, this has to improve. That killer instinct. Once Scott McTominay is getting ready to pull the trigger, his thought has to be, get in there for the rebound because he’s got to expect him to spill it. If he moves, he gets a tap in, it’s a simple goal if he wants to sniff out little chances like that. You can learn from that because his reaction is to not go in and get the tap in. You can definitely teach that.”
Predator
As his current manager at Old Trafford used to make a living out of, scoring those scrappy tap-ins is an art that strikers simply have to master. Indeed, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer himself insisted his forwards simply has to improve his instincts inside the box.
“It’s about those scrappy goals now. We have young players and they’ve got to learn to score those nasty little tap-ins that I did. They count just as much.”
Instead of having to rely on wonder-strikes like his mesmeric free-kick against Chelsea, or even scoring from penalties, finding the back of the net from those chances that people seem to under-appreciate is the key to United scoring more than their measly 13 goals in 11 Premier League games.
Things are once again going rather well over at the Spanish capital.
Real Madrid secured all three points last weekend as they tallied a rather impressive and dominant display on the road against Eibar.
Zinedine Zidane’s men slotted four goals past their hosts and returned home as deserved winners.
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But apart from a dominating display, one of the Los Blancos celebrated a special milestone as well.
Daniel Carvajal tallied his 250th game as one of the Galacticos and the club’s official Twitter account was quick to celebrate with him on social media.
And it didn’t really take long for many of the fans to do exactly the same, swarming the comments section with their messages of support and just general praise for their defender.
Some even called him the next captain of Real Madrid and stated he is one of the pillars of the team.
It seems that Carvajal is one of the fan favourites in the squad at the moment.
It's important not to be too disgruntled after losing against Manchester City, with the cyborg that is Erling Haaland decimating West Ham United's backline on Saturday to collect his second successive hat-trick, taking his tally to seven Premier League goals from three matches.
Julen Lopetegui's defensive line simply couldn't contain him, and though West Ham enter the first international break of the campaign with one win and two defeats, there is plenty to be excited about.
The Irons have enjoyed an immense summer of spending that has repackaged the squad ahead of an objective to push toward European qualification once again.
However, early readings suggest that Michail Antonio's starting spot at the spearhead needs to be taken away, for he's flattering to deceive.
Michail Antonio's performance vs Man City
Antonio was cut off from the flow of the match on Saturday, and that's not his fault. City's ball retention and domination made it difficult for West Ham, who temporarily tested the four-in-a-row Premier League champions through a Ruben Dias own goal, but Haaland dispelled any notion of an upset with some deadly finishing.
Antonio was handed a 5/10 match rating against Man City, with 90min's Sean Walsh writing: 'Gave his all and worked hard for the cause, though at crucial moments was muscled out by City's younger and more athletic defenders.'
It's not the fairest yardstick to use as an indicator of Antonio's performance level this season, but his efforts across the opening month have left plenty to be desired. He must now be dropped.
Michail Antonio for West Ham
Why Michail Antonio must be dropped
The Jamaica international will be 35 years old before the end of the campaign, and while he's still a brutish presence and a nuisance for defenders, there's little question that he's approaching the twilight stage of his career.
West Ham forward Michail Antonio
With that in mind, Niclas Fullkrug was signed from Borussia Dortmund for a £27m fee in the summer, a similarly hulking figure but more dynamic in his movement and playmaking ability.
Moreover, Jarrod Bowen continues to serve as West Ham's true attacking talisman, netting twice so far this season after scoring 20 goals across all competitions last year, hailed as "unplayable" by Brentford boss Thomas Frank after firing a hat-trick past his team.
Minutes played
73'
62'
71'
Goals
0
0
0
Assists
0
0
0
Touches
21
20
17
Shots (on target)
2 (0)
2 (0)
1 (0)
Accurate passes
6/9 (67%)
6/10 (60%)
3/6 (50%)
Key passes
0
0
0
Dribble attempts
0/0
0/0
2/3
Tackles + interceptions
0
0
0
Clearances
0
0
1
Total duels won
0/2
2/6
4/10
And as you can see above, Antonio's effort against Pep Guardiola's unit wasn't exactly an outlier in his start to the season. Notably, he only made three passes last weekend but the veteran has also yet to hit the target in the Premier League, winning just 33% of his contested duels to boot.
His 17 touches amounted to very little, unleashing one blocked shot, failing with half of his six attempted passes and failing – again – to make a single key pass for his teammates. West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola actually took more touches (23), despite being substituted at half-time due to injury – which really says it all.
Michail Antonio for West Ham
It seems like the right time for Lopetegui to think about loosening his grip on his preferred starting line-up, with the numerous summer signings now acclimatising to life in east London and entering the international break with a focus on building cohesion and tackling the forthcoming fixtures.
Antonio, while still a player to can make an impact, must move to the bench, or else West Ham will find themselves operating with a faulty focal point.
West Ham have already hit gold on amazing star who's worth more than Soler
West Ham have enjoyed plenty of success in the transfer window this summer
Mikel Arteta saved Arsenal, pulled the Emirates Stadium from the gutter and resculpted it into a force unlike anything that north London has seen in two decades, or thereabouts.
Rivals might chuckle at the lack of silverware. It has been four years since Arteta's unit defeated Chelsea in the FA Cup final, before the Spaniard had even enjoyed a full term or indeed a pre-season to inculcate his teachings.
The Gunners had a mountain to climb before reclaiming their place at the forefront of the Premier League, and while the summit has not yet been scaled, with Manchester City pushing to extend their unprecedented four successive triumphs, Arteta has been his former master Pep Guardiola's central title rival across the past two years.
Having bolstered with the statements signings of Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Declan Rice, who arrived from West Ham United in a deal worth £105m last summer, Arsenal could afford to be more opportunistic in the market, evidenced by the decision to pounce on Raheem Sterling.
2024/25
3
7
4
2023/24
38
89
2
2022/23
38
84
2
2021/22
38
69
5
2020/21
38
61
8
2019/20*
38
56
8
Signing Mikel Merino was one of the most important parts of the window, effectively replacing Granit Xhaka, but it was the deal to sign Riccardo Calafiori that could have a significant impact on the Gunners down the line.
Why Arsenal signed Riccaro Calafiori
Arsenal already have a varied set of top defenders, and though several players were shipped out across the summer months, the backline was left relatively untouched. But still, Calafiori had caught Arteta's eye.
Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori
In July, after performing as a shining light throughout Italy's difficult summer campaign, Arsenal completed a £42m move to purchase him from Bologna, where he had dazzled as the Serie A side defied expectations to secure a place in the 2024/25 Champions League.
Assertive, technically adept and tactically dynamic, Calafiori is the prototypical modern defender, showcasing his qualities for Italy during Euro 2024 and leading talent scout Jacek Kulig to claim that it was "the beginning of something special" for the rising star.
Minutes played
90'
Touches
117
Accurate passes
99/106 (93%)
Key passes
1
Long balls
2/4
Dribble attempts
2/2
Tackles
1
Clearances
3
His performance against Albania alone was enough to suggest that he has all the tools to craft a successful career on English shores, so influential and commanding in calling for the ball and dictating play from the back.
It's clear to see why. Calafiori's ball-carrying expertise and athletic merit plays right into Arteta's tactical set-up, ranking among the top 1% of centre-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 2% for shot-creating actions, the top 19% for pass completion, the top 20% for passes attempted, the top 18% for progressive carries and the top 6% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.
It's no surprise that he is often placed on the left side of the defence, with his pace and ball skills making him a wonderful player for Arsenal, driving the ball forward and using his ability to stretch the lines and create overloads, which can work wonders for top ball-possessing teams that regularly face compact low blocks.
The 22-year-old is not the top dog yet though. He's enjoyed substitute appearances in both of Arsenal's recent league outings after sitting through the opening-day victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on the bench.
He's not displaced Gabriel Magalhaes in the starting lineup, with the Brazil international possibly one of Arteta's most underrated talents.
Why Gabriel Magalhaes is still key for Arsenal
Arteta signed Gabriel from French side Lille for about £23m in September 2020, joining on a long-term contract as Arteta sought to piece together a team capable of competing for Champions League qualification on an annual basis.
He's had ups and downs throughout his Premier League career, but Gabriel has been a mighty presence at the rear over the past few years, with former Arsenal right-back Lauren even saying: “There isn’t a better centre-back partnership than Gabriel and William Saliba in the Premier League."
His bond with France international Saliba has been a thing to behold, keeping 18 clean sheets in the Premier League last year as Arsenal won the Golden Glove comfortably.
It's not hard to see why he's so highly favoured. As per Sofascore, the 26-year-old completed 89% of his passes in the league last year while averaging 0.7 key passes per game and coming out on top in 66% of his ground duels.
Hailed as a "beast" by journalist Robert Lutesich, Gabriel has yet to miss a minute for Arsenal this season and proved crucial in keeping clean sheets across the first two fixtures.
He's a top, top defender, and that's evidenced through his current market value, far above that of Calafiori…
Gabriel Magalhaes' market value in 2024
Calafiori has not been in the Premier League long but there's indeed every indication that he will go from strength to strength under Arteta's leadership, especially given the balmy conditions in north London right now.
But Gabriel is no pushover, with Transfermarkt even recording that he is valued at £59m right now, a fair stretch above that of his new Italian teammate's £42m transfer fee.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it. That's not to say that Arteta and Edu were wrong to make their move for Calafiori, who can operate across two positions and strengthens the team further as it looks to compete for silverware across four fronts, but Gabriel is quite the partner for prized possession Saliba, and he must continue to earn a berth in the starting line up, guiding Arsenal ever closer to an elusive slice of silverware.
Arsenal flop sold for £1m in 2018 is outscoring Gabriel Martinelli
The international just couldn’t make it work in North London.
Having already shown the door to the likes of Oliver Skipp and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg this summer, Tottenham Hotspur are set to get ruthless once more, showing the door to another player.
Tottenham transfer news
For a long time, it looked as though Spurs were prepared to enter the new season without a replacement for Harry Kane for the second campaign running, but the arrival of Dominic Solanke quickly eased those fears.
Saudi side eyeing late move for £70k-p/w Tottenham ace who wants to leave
He has a desire to quit N17 before August 30.
ByEmilio Galantini Aug 22, 2024
The former Liverpool forward arrived from Bournemouth in a deal worth a reported £65m earlier this month. The Lilywhites will have to wait slightly longer to see his first home appearance, however, after he picked up an injury in Spurs' 1-1 draw against Leicester to open their season.
They could at least watch new signing Wilson Odobert make his Premier League debut for the club, though, not long after arriving from Championship side Burnley.
The same can't be said for one particular defender whose time at the club appears to be coming to an end in the next week. According to Football Insider's Pete O'Rourke, Sergio Reguilon is "certain" to complete a move away from Spurs this month, as Daniel Levy looks to cash in amid interest from European giants Barcelona.
Into the final year of his contract, which sees the Spaniard earn a reported £120,000-a-week, Barcelona are reportedly eyeing a cut-price deal to sign the left-back.
Tottenham Hotspur'sSergioReguilonin action with Brighton & Hove Albion's Enock Mwepu
It must be said that an exit would suit all parties, with Reguilon's loan moves to Manchester United and Brentford last season indicating that Ange Postecoglou does not see a place for the former Real Madrid man in his side.
After cashing in on Reguilon, the Lilywhites may even use the money generated courtesy of his departure to seal a deal for AS Monaco's Vanderson, who they've been linked with in recent weeks.
Reguilon needs Tottenham exit
Earning a reported £120k-a-week, Spurs are right to show Reguilon the door this summer if he's not in Postecoglou's plans. Skipp, Emerson Royal and Hojberg suffered that fate and now the left-back looks to join them out the door to continue the Lilywhites' summer clear-out.
Those earlier exits have paved the way for the likes of Solanke, Archie Gray and Odobert to all arrive, representing Spurs' current sustainable business model, and Reguilon's departure will likely make room for more fresh faces. Into the final week of the summer transfer window, those in north London could yet be in for a busy few days.
Before anything, of course, Postecoglou will want to ensure that his side secure their first win of the Premier League campaign when Everton travel to north London in search of ticking off the same goal.
Without Solanke this weekend and perhaps Reguilon on a permanent basis, the Lilywhites have an early chance to prove any doubters wrong about their squad depth. Suffer defeat, however, and any rust shown against Leicester City will look more and more like weakness at Spurs.
Manchester United may set their sights on trying to bring Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo to Old Trafford in the transfer window, according to journalist Dean Jones.
What's the latest transfer news involving Jean-Clair Todibo?
Last month, acclaimed transfer guru Fabrizio Romano gave an insight into Todibo's situation heading into the summer, stating on Twitter: "Understand Newcastle, Manchester Utd and Liverpool scouts were in attendance at Nice-Rennes game to monitor Jean-Clair Todibo. French centre back could get top club move in the summer — with price tag understood to be around €45m."
L'Equipe via Get French Football News also echo a similar story, claiming that Manchester United, Liverpool and Newcastle United want to sign the 23-year-old defender, who is also being tracked by clubs around Europe, including Serie A giants Napoli and Juventus.
The £21k-a-week ace is said to be open to a new challenge next season and is mulling over his options before deciding his next career move.
Nice-Matin have revealed that Paris Saint-Germain also hold an attraction towards the former Barcelona defender, who has considerable levels of interest in his services in the off-season.
Manchester United have also been linked with other defenders recently, namely Napoli defender Kim Min-jae and Monaco star Axel Disasi, with Erik Ten Hag believed to be keen to strengthen his backline.
Speaking to Give Me Sport, journalist Jones has signified that Todibo could 'come into the equation' at Old Trafford this summer.
Jones told FFC when asked about Manchester United's interest in Todibo, Kim and Disasi: "Both players that have been scouted throughout the season [Kim Min-jae and Axel Disasi], I think Todibo as well in Ligue 1 has been looked at, so there's another name that potentially could come into the equation."
Would Jean-Clair Todibo be a good signing for Manchester United?
Todibo has enjoyed a solid campaign over in France at Ligue 1 outfit Nice and looks primed to test himself this summer by securing himself a move to an elite-level side.
In 2022/23, the Cayenne-born made 46 appearances in all competitions for Nice in a season where he was almost ever-present for his current employers, as per Transfermarkt.
Jean-Clair Todibo for Nice
WhoScored also shows that Todibo has excellent awareness of dangerous attacking situations and managed to complete an average of 3.1 clearances per match in the French top-flight this term.
The 23-year-old, who received massive praise from German legend Lothar Matthaus, who stated: "Todibo is the best centre back I’ve seen in a long time.”, was also solid in the tackle across the campaign and obtained an impressive challenge success ratio of 72.3%, according to FBRef.
Manchester United boss Ten Hag will be keen to boost his side's defensive abilities looking ahead to 2023/24 and Todibo is an addition that would excite the Old Trafford faithful due to his consistency and room to blossom further in the next few years.
Liverpool have taken promising early strides as Jurgen Klopp reconstructs his midfield, and now attention must turn to Nice midfielder Khephren Thuram, who is of a vested interest to the Anfield side.
What's the latest on Khephren Thuram to Liverpool?
That's according to Liverpool writer Neil Jones, speaking on the Anfield Index Podcast, who says that the Merseyside giants "like" the ace following information that they are in negotiation with his entourage.
He said: "Liverpool really like [Thuram] as a player. There’s something in him I think they see, you know, he’s an unusual or, I should say, rare sort of type of midfielder. He’s so physically imposing but he’s [also] got great footballing skill and massive technical quality."
The 22-year-old midfielder is reportedly touted at €60m (£52m) by his outfit who will be reluctant to part with one of their most coveted assets.
This follows news from transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano, who claims that the Reds have been in "direct contact" with the Frenchman this week, and with the bargain £35m transfer of Alexis Mac Allister now tied up, the emphasis may well shift onto Thuram.
Should Liverpool sign Khephren Thuram?
Despite his relative inexperience, Thuram looks a real player and could very well slot straight into Liverpool's starting midfield, such is the scope of his skill set.
His hopes at hitting the ground running are bolstered by the departures of trio James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain; while none of the listed have cemented a starting berth with regularity over the past several seasons, they are all talented midfielders and given Liverpool's woes this year, there is no reason he cannot transcend the remaining crop.
Bestowed his debut for Les Parisien this year, the 6 foot 4 colossus, discernibly graceful and adroit for a man of his stature, Thuram has made 138 appearances for Les Aiglons, scoring eight goals and supplying 11 assists, and has recently been hailed as a "tenacious tackler", a "powerful & energetic carrier" and boasting "significant upper-body strength" by talent scout Jacek Kulig.
As per FBref, the £15k-per-week phenom ranks among the top 25% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for rate of assists, the top 6% for progressive carries and the top 9% for successful take-ons per 90, which illustrates the energy and exuberance that has been scattered like fallen maple leaves in a storm at Anfield.
Liverpool did craft a seven-match winning run to steady the ship in the closing weeks of the season before drawing a succession of games to end the unlikely hopes of qualifying for top four, but it will have certainly instiled some optimism that there is a pathway back to prominence next year, especially after the squad has been rejuvenated with astute additions.
kephren-thuram-premier-league-liverpool-transfers
His energy and driving nature could provide Klopp with the perfect template to chisel his next sculpture in the mould of Ilkay Gundogan, who played under the German's wing at Borussia Dortmund, winning the Bundesliga title and the DFB Pokal in his first season before ultimately departing the Yellow Wall for Pep Guardiola's Manchester City for £21m, where he is now regarded one of football's premium stars.
Hailed as "outstanding" by Manchester United icon Roy Keane for his efforts this term, Gundogan ranks among the top 5% of positional peers for rate of non-penalty goals, the top 19% for rate of assists, the top 20% for progressive passes, the top 21% for progressive carries and the top 4% for touches in the attacking box per 90, outling him as a creative ball carrier, just like Thuram.
If the Frenchman can emulate the City midfielder's impact as he grows into his skin over the next several seasons, he could yet assume the role of the Premier League's first-class midfield box-crasher.
Indeed, Thuram might just be the "perfect profile" – as he has been called by Alex Jaquin – for the Reds, and while he is not quite the refined, finished article as of yet, under Klopp's wing he could be shaped into a deadly gem every bit as emphatic as City's German sensation.
Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly interested in making a move for Wolverhampton Wanderers defender, Max Kilman, having seemingly had a long-standing interest in the Englishman.
What's the latest on Kilman to Tottenham?
According to the Mirror, the 26-year-old is among the list of potential targets for the Lilywhites this summer, with chairman Daniel Levy said to be ready to back incoming manager, Ange Postecoglou in the transfer market.
The piece notes that the experienced coach could oversee something of a mass clearout at N17 over the coming weeks, with defensive reinforcements likely to be needed amid the uncertainty surrounding the futures of both Davinson Sanchez and Eric Dier.
While the piece does not reveal how much it could cost the north London outfit to prise Kilman from Molineux, The Athletic's Tim Spiers previously suggested back in January that the 6 foot 4 ace could command a fee of around £20-£30m.
Who could Kilman replace at Tottenham?
The Tottenham hierarchy will likely be hoping that they can finally get their hands on the towering centre-back ahead of next season, having previously been linked with a move for the Wolves man last summer during Antonio Conte's time at the helm.
As alluded to above, the addition of the "generational talent" – as hailed by sports writer Nathan Judah – could prove something of an upgrade on the struggling Sanchez, in particular, with the latter man having endured a miserable 2022/23 campaign at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The long-serving Colombian – who arrived from Ajax on a £42m deal back in 2017 – was notably booed off by the home support following a disastrous, brief cameo against AFC Bournemouth back in April, having largely been on the periphery throughout the campaign after making just eight Premier League starts.
Spurs' Davinson Sanchez
Part of a backline that shipped 63 top-flight goals this season, the 26-year-old seemingly "doesn't have the talent" to be able to thrive at centre-back – according to ex-Colombia boss Jorge Luis Pinto – while former Spurs man Jamie O'Hara described him as "one of the worst players" that he has seen at the club.
As such, turning to a defensive "monster" like Kilman – as hailed by Wolves insider Tom Parker – could prove the final nail in the coffin for Sanchez, with it easy to see why the Wolves ace has caught the eye of late.
The £15k-per-week machine is notably a real dominant force as he won 67% of his aerial duels in the league in 2022/23, while the current Tottenham man, by contrast, won just 62% of his aerial duels.
It is the Chelsea-born gem's quality in possession that also sets him apart from Sanchez, with the former Maidenhead United starlet ranking in the top 12% among his European peers for successful take-ons as a marker of his ability to play out from the back, while his Spurs counterpart ranks in just the top 47% in that regard.
With the signing of Sanchez having seemingly "not worked" – according to pundit Alan Hutton – Postecoglou could ruthlessly ditch the £65k-per-week dud by bringing Kilman into the fold this summer.
Burnley will be looking forward to their return to the Premier League this summer and Vincent Kompany will be preparing for the huge challenge ahead of him.
The former Anderlecht boss has been a revelation at Turf Moor since his arrival less than 12 months ago, but the step-up to top-flight football will be a true test of the up-and-coming manager.
The club has already put the wheels in motion to build a squad fit to compete, with the permanent signings of Jordan Beyer and Michael Obafemi so far, but will need to add more depth across the squad to ensure they have enough quality and depth.
In the forward line, Ashley Barnes is set for a move to Norwich City following the expiration of his contract, whilst top scorer Nathan Tella is – as it stands – returning to Southampton after an incredible 19-goal loan stint at Turf Moor.
As a result, bolstering the attacking options will be a priority for Kompany in the summer transfer window, with a consistent and reliable goal-scorer desperately needed to replace Tella’s goal contributions.
One player who has been linked to a Burnley move this summer is Aris Saloniki star Luis Palma, a talented forward who could form a formidable attacking partnership with Anass Zaroury.
Who is Luis Palma?
The 23-year-old has been plying his trade in the Greek top flight and his impressive performances has attracted the attention of a number of clubs in the process.
Burnley will need to compete with Leeds United, Rangers, Anderlecht and Dynamo Kyiv who are also named as potential suitors for the promising player.
Over 29 Greek Super League appearances, Palma has scored 11 goals, registered four assists and four big chances created, as well as averaging 2.1 shots on goal, 1.4 key passes, one successful dribble and 37.5 touches per game, proving that he is a huge presence in front of goal.
luis-palma-burnley-transfer
The Honduran forward – praised for his “brilliant” goal contributions by Spanish agent Paulo Hernandez – not only provides consistent goal contributions but offers great versatility with experience on the left wing, striker role and in attacking midfield.
As a result, Palma could be a fantastic asset to Kompany next season in the attacking threat and combining his hunger for goals with Anass Zaroury’s creativity could cause nightmares for opponents in the top flight.
With that being said, it will be interesting to see how Kompany develops and builds his squad to compete comfortably next season, and the signing of Palma could be a great place to start.
Journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Aston Villa now have a "big chance" of signing Marco Asensio this summer with Unai Emery in love with the player.
What are the latest Marco Asensio transfer rumours?
As reported by The Athletic, the Spanish midfielder will be leaving Real Madrid at the end of the season for free when his contract expires.
The article claims that the 27-year-old had been negotiating a new deal with the club since the start of the year but has ultimately decided to reject what was on the table as he wants a "more prominent role in the team."
In the aftermath, it's no shock to learn that some big clubs may be keen on picking up Asensio and ESPN state he is now in "advanced talks" to join Paris Saint-Germain as a free agent.
Despite that, while talking about all the rumours on his YouTube channel, Romano revealed that Emery wants the player and so he could yet end up in the Premier League.
He said (2:22): “Then Premier League clubs, Aston Villa, Emery is in love with Marco Asensio so a big chance now for them to go for it on a free transfer, but also other clubs interested in Marco Asensio.
"For example, last summer, it was last August, Manchester United were in contact with Jorge Mendes about Marco Asensio. Then the player decided to continue at Real Madrid also because [Carlo] Ancelotti wanted him to stay at the club.
"Now the market is open for Asensio, and so a very big opportunity for the Spanish player. So let's keep an eye on Asensio in the next days and in the next weeks."
Can Aston Villa afford Marco Asensio?
It's not hard to see why plenty of clubs around Europe are keen on Asensio. After all, he's won nearly everything club football can offer in Spain having lifted the likes of the Champions League, La Liga, and the Club World Cup (all on multiple occasions).
He won't come cheap, however, as he is currently on around £165k-p/w at Madrid, but as he can be signed without a transfer fee, this could be an affordable deal for Aston Villa.
Real Madrid forward Marco Asensio.
With all that in mind though, there will obviously be major competition for his signature and with PSG already in advanced talks, Emery and co will have to move swiftly in the next few days potentially if they are to pull off this exciting summer transfer.