An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their pursuit of Marco Asensio in the summer transfer window...

What's the talk?

According to Spanish outlet AS, the Magpies are plotting a swoop to sign the gem as they want to make him a big part of their long-term project at St. James' Park.

The report claims that Real Madrid have not given up on keeping him at the club and may use him for the remaining 12 months of his contract if they opt against selling him to the Premier League team.

It has been reported that a deal could be done for £34m this summer, although this latest update does not mention how much the La Liga side would want for him. 

Big Miguel Almiron upgrade

By securing a deal to sign Asensio, Newcastle would be landing a big upgrade on Miguel Almiron out wide next season.

In the 2021/22 campaign, the Paraguay international struggled badly on the right wing. He played in 30 of the club's 38 Premier League games, starting 19, and produced one goal and zero assists.

The 28-year-old is, quite simply, not good enough to start games on a regular basis in the top-flight and must be replaced in the coming weeks/months.

This is where a swoop for the gem comes in as he has the quality to offer more than Almiron at the top end of the pitch.

Ex-Real Madrid players Guti and Raul have both hailed his talents in the past. The former said:

“Asensio is a lot better player than I was. He has an unlimited ceiling, his head is very well furnished and will depend on what he wants to do in the world of football. The future is in his feet.”

Raul added: “He has much to offer now and a great future ahead of him. He’s a young guy, eager to work and he’s currently doing very well.”

These comments illustrate the 26-year-old's potential and his statistics in La Liga last term suggest that he is starting to live up to the hype.

In the 2021/22 campaign, Asensio scored ten goals in 19 league starts for Real, whilst also scoring once and assisting two in nine Champions League outings.

These stats prove that he has the quality to have a greater impact than Almiron in the final third, albeit that is not difficult based on the Magpies dud's form last season.

AND in other news, Howe can land dream Ekitike alternative as NUFC plot bid for "powerful" £8.5m dynamo...