Arsenal will reportedly have to cough up £72m plus £5.5m-per-year in wages if they want to land Real Madrid’s Marco Asensio.

Despite Asensio’s current contract with Real Madrid still having five years on it, the 21-year-old is allegedly seeking an improved deal.

According to reports from Spanish outlet, Diario Gol, the attacking midfielder believes he deserves a pay rise, seeing as he scored in the Champions League final against Juventus, and has now also found the net in the Super Cup against Barcelona, which is why he’s apparently called an emergency meeting with Real bosses.

In fact, he believes he should earn £5.5m-per-year.

This works out as just over £105k-per-week, which, according to the Sun, is seven times what he’s currently earning since he’s still on a youth salary. This means that he’s currently getting paid £15.1k-per-week, which is still pretty great for a young player.

For example, Rob Holding allegedly earns £10k-per-week.

Asensio scored 10 goals and assisted four in 38 appearances for Real Madrid’s first team last term. Does this warrant such a massive pay rise?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYxn3VC5Hu0

The Spain u21 international is effectively asking to be put in the same wage bracket as Luka Modric, Isco and Toni Kroos for goodness sake. Can you really see Arsenal allowing that?

The Gunners are reportedly willing to fork out £72m for the Real starlet’s release clause, which doesn’t sound likely, especially on top of these massive wages.

So, let’s say Arsenal sign him on a five-year deal and assume that he doesn’t get sold on. That’s £72m + (5 x £5.5m) = £99.5m. Not including bonuses.

Thanks but no thanks.

Asensio only signed for Los Blancos from Mallorca, where he’s come through the ranks, three years ago for a €3.9m.