As reported by Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, Liverpool have made a stunning £158m bid for Real Madrid star Marco Asensio this summer.

What's the story?

Liverpool are likely to be connected to many bizarre transfer rumours this summer, but the latest one involving a Real Madrid star might be the most outlandish of the lot.

Mundo Deportivo say that the Reds have tabled a firm and serious £158m offer for Spanish international Marco Asensio, with Madrid set to consider it before deciding whether to reject or not.

Clearly that would smash their current transfer record and would provide a tremendous attacking boost to Jurgen Klopp's squad, but is a move for the player likely when Liverpool have other first team priorities?

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Transformative or wasteful?

There is absolutely no doubt that Asensio would likely be a massive success at Liverpool, even with the pressure of a record transfer fee behind him and an adaptation to English football required.

With 11 goals and six assists for Madrid last term, he became a trusted member of Zinedine Zidane's squad, playing a crucial role both from the start of games and from the bench.

His form was good enough to win a place in Spain's talented World Cup squad and at 22 years of age, is seen as one of the emerging generation who will carry the torch for his country in the years to come.

It's the kind of signing that could help Liverpool reach the next level in their pursuit of silverware, but it's also arguably a signing they don't need. They already have plenty of creativity and attacking prowess in the team.

What they need a world class goalkeeper and another elite defender that can compete with Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip for that spot alongside Virgil van Dijk.

In that sense, despite it clearly being an incredible potential signing, it could be seen as wasteful.

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