Newcastle United ‘consider’ free agent move for Champions League winner

Marco Asensio is ‘under consideration’ as a free transfer signing for Newcastle United - according to reports in Italy.

Still only 26, the Spanish international has enjoyed a trophy-laden stay at Real Madrid after moving to the Bernabeu in a £3.5m deal from Real Mallorca in December 2014. After spending the second half of the season back on loan at his former club and heading back out to spend the following campaign at Espanyol, Asensio finally began to establish himself at Real from the start of the 2016 season.

A return of 10 goals and four assists during his first campaign in the Spanish capital ended with a La Liga title and Champions League double as he set the tone for what would follow. In total, Asensio has become a three-time La Liga winner and a three-time Champions League winner, as well as landing the Supercopa Espana, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA World Club Cup on multiple occasions.

But there is doubt over his long-term future at the Bernabeu and he will head into the final six months of his current deal in the new year, meaning he can negotiate a free transfer agreement with a club outside of Spain. CalcioMercato have claimed Newcastle have a long-standing interest in the Mallorca-born forward that started just weeks after the PIF-led consortium completed their takeover at St James Park 12 months ago.

Asensio addressed his future in an interview with Diario AS during the summer, saying: “I have one more year in my contract yet here we are talking about me leaving Real Madrid. This is an important moment for me, I will not deny it. I am more mature and not only on the field, this is an important moment and I will have to make important decisions. Me and my family know that I have to keep growing and moving forward. I want to achieve important things in football and they help me do that.”

The likes of Manchester United and Inter Milan have also been linked with the forward.