The influx of top players from Spain and Italy into the English Premier League has grown considerably in the last few transfer windows. Real Madrid midfielder Isco looks set to join this bandwagon after some fresh rumours linking him with Arsenal and Tottenham emerged this week. Isco is seen as one of the highly talented players in the Real Madrid squad, but he has been unable to get much game time under Zinedine Zidane. The fresh speculation about the midfielder has also cropped up as a result of Real Madrid reportedly holding back the possibility of offering a new contract to the player.
Isco is out of contract at the end of the 2018 season, which leaves Madrid with little time to secure the player for the long term – if they are interested in keeping him. Isco was linked with a move away from the Santiago Bernabeu even back in the summer, but the move did not materialise as the club failed to bring in Paul Pogba as the replacement. The player openly stated that he is perplexed by Madrid not offering him a new deal just yet. He said:
“The truth is that I have not yet thought about it, nor have they asked me to renew, so I am calm. I take it day by day, which is important.
“It seems a little weird [that Real haven’t spoken about it yet], but I can’t do anything.
“If they don’t want me to renew, I won’t go asking for it. It’s something for the club to decide, not me.”
The Spanish international has been at Madrid since 2013. The interest surrounding the player is huge considering that he is only 24 years old. It is also the reason behind Madrid contemplating the sale of the player either in the upcoming January transfer window or in the summer. His transfer value will deplete considerably in the summer – when he has just 12 months left on his contract – and any decision regarding the player has to be taken before January.
Once again, Isco may be a 24-year-old but he has already won the Champions League twice in his career. Furthermore, he has won the FIFA Club World Cup and Copa del Rey once before going on to lift two UEFA Super Cup.
Despite his young age, Isco became a regular with Madrid from the word go, but his importance has been waning of late. Last season, he made only 43 appearances in all competitions while he has gone on to make only one league start so far this season. Three of his four league appearances have come as a substitute. Interestingly, Zidane has not stuck to the same players when it comes to midfield, but it is clear that Luka Modric and Toni Kroos are the base around which the midfield is constructed.
Isco is the kind of player who can replace either Santi Cazorla at Arsenal or Christian Eriksen at Tottenham. Both these clubs would be able to do well with the trophy winning experience provided by Isco. It would not be surprising to see an intense fight between the two in January for the Spanish star.
