Liverpool FC transfer news: Real Madrid ‘reject £42m Reds bid for Marco Asensio’

Liverpool have had a shock £42m bid for Real Madrid ace Marco Asensio turned down, according to reports in his native Spain.

The 21-year-old is back in the first-team fold at Madrid after spending last season on loan at Espanyol and has impressed during his 17 La Liga outings.

Asensio is very highly rated at the club, who view him as a key part of their plans over the next few years.

So it is not surprising that, according to both Marca and Cadena Cope, Madrid knocked back Liverpool's mega-money offer for the youngster.

The Bernabeu club paid Real Mallorca just £3.3m to sign him in 2015 but they were not interested in making nearly £40m in profit by flogging him to Liverpool.

But they believe Asensio, who is now a Spain international, will be worth much more than that to them in the future.