CHELSEA have leapt ahead of Arsenal and Manchester City in the race for Isco.
The Sun claim that the Blues are hoping to tie up a four-and-a-half year deal, worth £250,000-a-week, for the out-of-favour midfielder when the transfer window reopens.The Real Madrid midfielder is set to be the subject of a £70m bid from the Blues
A hefty signing-on fee is also set to be part of the package for the 26-year-old.
The Blues have moved ahead of the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City in the pack, with the latter intent on waiting until next summer before making a move.
However, with the Spaniard surplus to requirements at Real – a deal is set to be completed in January.
Isco has made just 11 league appearances this season and was booed by the home crowd in last week’s woeful Champions League defeat against CSKA Moscow.
Chelsea will make a a £70m bid for Isco today and hope personal terms of around £250,000 a week will quickly be agreed (@SunDeanScoggin) pic.twitter.com/U70AKwpmj3
— Simon Phillips (@SiPhillipsSport) December 19, 2018
Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri, who has handed over negotiations to Sporting Director Marina Granovskaia, wants to pair Isco with Eden Hazard.
The Belgian, who has himself admitted it would be a dream to play for Real, has been used in the ‘false 9’ position in recent weeks and Sarri sees Isco as the perfect foil for the Belgian.
There is an expectancy that negotiations will move quickly and Isco could join Chelsea as early as the first week of the New Year.
City boss Pep Guardiola is a long-term admirer of Isco, but the midfielder wants out of Madrid next month – and the Champions are unlikely to make a move at this stage.
Sarri hopes a busy transfer window, including the addition of Isco, will turn the Blues into serious Premier League title contenders.