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Arsenal are targeting a loan for Real Madrid midfielder Isco once the January transfer window opens later this week, according to reports.
The Gunners have reportedly made the Spaniard their No. 1 transfer target and will offer the 28-year-old a route out of his nightmare at the Bernabéu, where he has lost favor with Zinedine Zidane.
According to PA, the north London club wants to bring Isco on a six-month loan deal once the window opens in the new year, but faces a number of problems in making the move happen.
To bring Isco to the Emirates, Arsenal will need Real to pay part of the Spaniard’s salary, which could be an obstacle for the Madrid club.
Arsenal would also need to trade at least one player to bring in Isco, and Mesut Ozil is the man the Gunners are desperate to follow, considering his mammoth £ 350,000 a week salary continues to eat up the club’s cash reserves.
Ozil has been frozen by Arteta and it is highly unlikely that he will play for the club again, with his contract with the club at the end of the season.
Arteta has been desperate for more creativity in midfield and up front and reports claim that Isco is the perfect candidate to help with that specific problem.
Isco has made 11 appearances for Real Madrid this season and Zidane often rotates heavily.
The former Malaga player has 18 months left on his current contract at the Bernabéu and could be sold in the summer for just £ 18 million.
While Arsenal would be eager to close a deal, they face stiff competition from Sevilla, according to AS.
The Spanish media outlet states that Isco would rather be in Spain than move to England and would like to meet with the former head of Spain and Madrid, Julen Lopetegui.
Isco enjoyed good form during Lopetegui’s brief time at the helm of the reigning LaLiga champions in 2018 and it is understood that he has felt more supported by him.
However, his time in the Spanish capital has since soured, with the playmaker now firmly out of favor. Zidane is said to have lost all confidence in Isco, but will refuse to allow the outcast to leave next month due to fears of a possible injury crisis.
Madrid will accept a reasonable price for his old prized asset and will also be able to cut his annual salary of 6.3 million pounds.
Isco believes that he will still be able to enjoy at least three more seasons performing at the highest level. The same report also states that Lopetegui is enjoying the opportunity to work alongside Isco once again and that the player’s family would be delighted with the change.
Source: m.allfootballapp.com
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