Steve McManaman believes Marco Asensio is an "Arsenal type player" and has backed the Real Madrid star to move to the Emirates amid continued speculation with Liverpool.
A report from Spain recently claimed that the Reds are among five clubs who have made an offer for the playmaker.
The report also claimed that Asensio is considering leaving in Spain given that he has offers from the Premier League, Serie A and the Bundesliga.
As well as the Reds being named, AC Milan, Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund and Juventus are waiting for his decision on his Santiago Bernabeu future, according to the report.
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Asensio remains under contract with Madrid until the summer of 2023 but has struggled for game time under Carlo Ancelotti so far this season.
But despite the links with the Reds, McManaman believes Asensio would be an ideal fit for Arsenal as he would be getting regular game time with both Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette now in the latter stages of their playing career.
“His reputation was probably better two years ago when he first came onto the scene and scored a bunch of lovely goals, in the Champions League final against Juventus in 2017 in Cardiff and in the Super Cup, a lovely goal, against Barcelona," he told Horseracing.net.
“But since then he’s had injuries and of course Real Madrid aren’t the team that they were four years ago, and his level has come off.
“It all depends on what Asensio himself wants to do and, secondly, what Real Madrid are going to do; whether they’re going to bring [Kylian] Mbappe in, if they’re going to try and bring [Erling] Haaland in as well – and that will determine Asensio’s decision.
“I know lots of players who have been at Real Madrid. Because they’re Spanish, because they love the capital, because they love the lifestyle, because they love playing for a team like Real Madrid, they’d quite happily stay, and stay, and stay, without playing a huge amount of football.
“Asensio maybe one of those players but if [Karim] Benzema’s in front of him, Mbappe's in front of him, if he thinks Vinicius Jr’s better than him, Rodrygo’s ahead of him, and the opportunity is there to leave, then maybe he will take it.
“If it was a club next year I’d say it would be Arsenal. [Pierre-Emerick] Aubameyang’s coming to the end of his career – or he’s certainly into his thirties – and with [Alexandre] Lacazette in a similar position and coming to the end of his contract, Asensio could be at a club where he’d probably have more joy of playing. If he’s to leave in 18 months, it’s still a long, long way away.
“But I think he’s an Arsenal type of player, like an [Martin] Odegaard, who’s good on the ball, not necessarily really quick, but turns well, scores goals and makes chances.”
