Arsenal are the favourites to sign Real Madrid winger Marco Asensio before the transfer window shuts, according to The Mirror.

The Spanish international has less than a year left on his contract, and he will be sold if a club matches his £23.5m (€28m) price tag.

Asensio has moved agencies in order to secure a move away from the Bernabeu and he is now managed by Cristiano Ronaldo’s representative Jorge Mendes.

Considering the superagent’s good relations with Manchester United, it was assumed that the Red Devils would be in pole position to snap up the 26-year-old but The Mirror say that “sources close to the player” have told them that the Gunners are in the “box seat”.

Manager Mikel Arteta is looking to replace Nicolas Pepe, who has been loaned out to Nice. However, it was believed that Wolves’ Pedro Neto was the club’s number one target.

Ironically, the Portuguese player is also managed by Mendes but it appears that, if Arsenal can’t agree a deal for the 22-year-old, they will opt to recruit Asensio instead.