Transfer Centre

Real Madrid 'preparing to offload Marco Asensio, Dani Ceballos'

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 26 June 2022

Real Madrid 'preparing to offload Asensio, Ceballos'

Real Madrid duo Marco Asensio and Dani Ceballos are reportedly the next two names on the Bernabeu chopping block after Isco, Marcelo and Gareth Bale's exits.

Real Madrid are reportedly planning to offload Marco Asensio and Dani Ceballos in the coming weeks.

Despite winning the La Liga and Champions League double in the 2021-22 season, Carlo Ancelotti's squad could still undergo a significant revamp this summer.

Marcelo, Isco and Gareth Bale will all see their time at the Bernabeu officially come to an end next week, and the latter will soon arrive at MLS outfit Los Angeles.

According to Marca, Asensio and Ceballos are the next two names facing the axe, with the two Spaniards both seen as expendable by Ancelotti.

Asensio competed with the likes of Rodrygo and Federico Valverde for starts on the right-hand side of the attack last term and ended the campaign with 12 goals and two assists from 42 outings in all competitions.

Dani Ceballos in action for Arsenal on December 19, 2020 © Reuters

The 26-year-old hit double figures in goals in La Liga, but he only started 19 top-flight games and did not start any Champions League matches beyond the last-16 stage, being an unused substitute in the final against Liverpool.

Asensio's contract at the Bernabeu is also set to expire in 12 months' time, but Real will supposedly demand a fee of €10m (£8.6m) for the AC Milan and Arsenal-linked Spain international.

However, AC Milan are also thought to be in talks over a deal for Chelsea attacker Hakim Ziyech, which could potentially scupper Asensio's proposed switch to San Siro.

Meanwhile, Ceballos was already behind the likes of Casemiro, Luka Modric and Toni Kroos in the pecking order and now has added competition in the form of Aurelien Tchouameni.

The former Arsenal loanee registered one assist in 18 appearances across all tournaments last season and only played 11 times in La Liga - starting two of them after recovering from a serious ankle injury.

Real Madrid attacker Marco Asensio celebrates scoring on April 30, 2022 © Reuters

Ceballos also played just 36 minutes of Real's triumphant Champions League campaign and sees his contract expire in the summer of 2023, leading to the expectation that he will leave for a cut-price fee in the current window.

Ancelotti is supposedly open to the idea of Ceballos remaining at the Bernabeu, but he will not prevent the 25-year-old from leaving as he aims to force his way into Spain's World Cup squad.

As well as Ceballos and Asensio, out-of-favour players such as Luka Jovic and Mariano Diaz are also expected to leave, with the former said to be in talks over a switch to Fiorentina.

Tchouameni and Antonio Rudiger have already arrived to bolster Ancelotti's options for 2022-23, and Los Blancos are rumoured to have joined the race to sign free agent Paulo Dybala.

Asensio's fellow right-winger Rodrygo has also been linked with a surprise exit, and the 21-year-old has allegedly been identified as a potential replacement for Sadio Mane at Liverpool.