The January transfer touchpaper is about to ignite in a frenzy as three Premier League clubs enter a skirmish for a certain Spanish star.
Once again, Isco has been writing the headlines as his departure from Real Madrid looks imminent, after falling from grace with both the management, and, most significantly with the supporters.
Chelsea have entered the running alongside Arsenal and Manchester City to snatch up the talented Spain international who reportedly has a £70million bounty on his head, according to The Sun. For any of the three clubs he would become their record signing.
Whilst Manchester City are stocked full of talent – arguably having the most depth in squad of any team in Europe – and competition for places would likely greet his arrival at the Etihad. Furthermore, he’d be ineligible to play in European competition thanks to both clubs progression in the Champions League.
Isco could well be served with a move to Stamford Bridge to be welcomed into the starting XI week in, week out, complementing the outstanding talismanic Eden Hazard, in front of a solid midfield duo of N’golo Kante and summer signing Jorginho.
It is likely he’d displace his former teammate Mateo Kovacic who is currently on loan at the club until the end of the season from Real.
Isco has been a Real Madrid player since 2013, when he completed a €30 million move from Malaga, being ranked as one of the hottest properties in Europe.
He has gone on to be part of the side that have procured the massive haul of four Champions League trophies (three incredibly back-to-back), a Copa del Rey, and a single La Liga title.
Five years on, Isco is well out of favour with interim manager Santiago Solari in Los Blancos’ setup – as he was during Solari’s predecessor, Julen Lopetegui.
The Spaniard has been dropped for the last five games, not moving from the bench for two, and completing just an hour of play from a possible 450minutes.
With the three games he missed through appendicitis at the end of September and into October, that means Isco has made just five starts this season and completed 90 minutes of football in La Liga just once, in the 5-1 drubbing by rivals Barcelona at the Nou Camp which signalled the end of Lopetegui’s reign.
Just last week Isco was roundly booed by the home crowd in the Spanish capital after the 3-0 loss for the European champions at the hands of CSKA Moscow, despite Los Merengues progression as they attempt to retain their thrice-won title.
With it becoming increasingly apparent that Isco is unwanted at the Santiago Bernabeu, whichever Premier League team wins out, it seems certain that’ll they’ll be gaining a prized asset with the ability to light up the English top tier.