Manchester United offered the chance to sign Marco Asensio

Manchester United have been offered the chance to sign Real Madrid winger Marco Asensio, according to the Telegraph. 

The 26-year-old is looking to leave Madrid and is understood to be available for £25.3 million.

United are currently hot on the heels of Ajax winger Antony and have already seen a bid rejected for the forward. 

The Red Devils were offered the deal to sign Asensio before they signed Casemiro from the Spanish champions for £60m, but they are confident of reaching an agreement to sign Antony as they weigh up a new bid of around £84.4m.

Asensio is in the final year of his contract at the Santiago Bernabeu, and the club hierarchy are wary of losing him on a free transfer next summer.

Madrid are willing to sanction a deal, but as it stands, it is unlikely United will move for the Spanish international as they remain focused on completing the deal for Antony. 

Super agent Jorge Mendes, who represents United striker Cristiano Ronaldo, also represents Asensio, so a move away from the Spanish capital remains possible before the transfer window closes next week.

United were contacted about Asensio earlier in the window, and so far, they are yet to rule out the possibility of submitting a formal offer. 

If Asensio moves to Old Trafford, he would be the fourth ex-Madrid star to move to the Theatre of Dreams after Raphael Varane, Ronaldo, and Casemiro.

However, the priority for the Manchester club remains Antony. The Brazilian is keen to reunite with Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford and has told the Ajax management that he wants to join United.

But there is a fear within United that even if they meet the asking price for the 22-year-old, the Dutch club may still refuse to sell, especially as they are under no financial pressure to do so.

Chelsea setting a high price for outcast Hakim Ziyech, who Ajax considers a possible replacement for Antony, also does not bode well for United’s chances of completing the deal.

Antony has been the number one target for Ten Hag’s side all summer, but the club have already identified an alternative in PSV Eindhoven winger Cody Gakpo.