Blow for Klopp as Real Madrid enter talks with "extraordinary" Liverpool transfer target

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was dealt a blow after long standing transfer target Marco Asensio reportedly entered talks to sign a three-year contract extension at Real Madrid.

Asensio has long been behind Rodrygo, Vinicius Junior and 2022 Ballon D’Or winner Karim Benzema in the Real Madrid pecking order, which led to the Spain international being linked to Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham over the summer.

However Spanish publication AS are reporting that Real want to secure Asensio to a three-year contract extension that includes a bumper pay rise after the 26-year-old impressed in a string of opportunities from the bench.

Asensio’s agent, Jorge Mendes, is reportedly holding out for a longer deal and an even higher wage for his client.

The potential of the Spaniard extending his stay at Real beyond next summer will likely come as a blow to Liverpool, whose ageing squad has endured a stuttering start to the season.

Asensio signed for Los Blancos in 2016 but has since struggled to secure a regular starting berth.

However, earlier this year Los Blancos manager Carlo Ancelotti told AS that Asensio was a player of “extraordinary quality”.

The Italian was again full of praise for the forward after he starred from the bench in Real’s 3-1 win against Sevilla at the weekend.

Ancelotti told the media: “He is a great player who can play for Real Madrid.

“He is taking advantage of the few minutes I am giving him and by the way he deserves more. Both he and Vini Jr. have made a difference today.”

Asensio has not made a start in either La Liga or the Champions League this season, but has featured from the bench on 11 occasions.

Despite having stacked up just 128 minutes of football during this period, he has provided a goal and an assist from a 10-minute and 13-minute cameos against Elche and Sevilla in the past week.