Tottenham have been heavily linked with Real Madrid midfielder Isco for quite a while. However, it seems that the transfer may not happen after all. Spanish football reporter Guillem Balague says that Madrid are now even considering the possibility of offering the 24-year-old a new contract. Isco has been much more improved in recent weeks, and he is starting to play an integral role in the Zinedine Zidane team for the first time. He has contributed two goals and two assists in his last six matches for the club.
Against Atletico Madrid during the weekend, Isco was a major factor in helping the club register a 3-0 win at the Vicente Calderon. One of the main factors for Isco’s transfer rumours with Tottenham was the lack of regular game time. Now that this issue has been addressed for the time being, Madrid are also looking to sweeten Isco’s stay by offering him a much-improved pay packet compared to the current £60,000 per week wages. Madrid have been on a spree of extending contracts of their players. This is due to the upcoming to transfer ban which will prevent the club from signing any new players for two transfer windows.
Balague said:
“Forget it, it’s not going to happen,” he told Sky Sports when asked about Isco to Tottenham in January. “Zero chances of that happening.
“Real are seeing that he is improving and they are thinking of giving him a new contract. Remember, Real cannot sign for two transfer windows.”
The transfer ban is thought to have been a major factor in Madrid and not thinking twice about offering Cristiano Ronaldo, who is 31, a five-year contract. Isco, as one of the players in the prime of his career, is likely to receive a similar five-year contract but on a much-improved terms. The Spaniard is likely to receive an offer in the region of £100,000 per week.
Isco was seen as a potential replacement for Christian Eriksen, who has come in for criticism of late with some mediocre performances. At a time when Spurs are looking to qualify regularly for the Champions League, they need the presence of big players to make it happen. Isco may only be 24 years old, but he has been at Madrid since 2013 after having joined the club for around €30 million.
One of the major motivations that Tottenham received in their pursuit of the player was the player’s remaining contract length. Isco will be out of contract in the summer of 2018, and there was a huge possibility of signing him much lesser than the €40 million valuation of Madrid in the summer when he would have only one year left on his contract. Now with Madrid making all the right moves to make Isco happy at the Santiago Bernabeu, Spurs may very well look for options elsewhere.
The club are expected to make a couple of signings in the January transfer window.
