Tottenham are one of a number of clubs who have been tracking the 24-year-old, but is there a need for the Real Madrid midfielder at White Hart Lane right now?
Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with a move for Real Madrid playmaker Isco again by the likes of Marca this week, but considering the North London side’s performances this season, and the transfers they completed in the summer, is the Spaniard a necessary addition?
Of course, it is nearly always a positive to add quality to your squad even if there is strength in depth in every position. But the club currently have a large number of attacking midfielders who have impressed this season, and there are also youngsters waiting in the wings to come through. Both groups would see first team chances fall if another big money player such as Isco arrived.
Isco celebrates scoring for Real Madrid
Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli are very much first choice players in the Spurs midfield, while it looks like Erik Lamela and Moussa Sissoko are also key options on the right, but can also offer support in other positions.
Heung-min Son’s impressive form since coming into the team, he has five goals already this season, suggesst a continued position of real importance wherever Mauricio Pochettino fits him in, while Georges-Kevin Nkoudou also looks a genuine, and different talent.
In the youth groups, Harry Winks and Marcus Edwards are pushing for greater chances in the first team squad. Their path to minutes would be severely hampered were Isco to arrive.
The Real Madrid man has featured as a central attacking midfielder for the La Liga giants this season, and for most of his career, with plenty of matches also on the left hand side of midfield.
In many ways, Isco is a similar player to Christian Eriksen as a technical playmaker who, on the surface at least, lacks the physical attributes of his midfield teammates.
Tottenham’s Christian Eriksen applauds fans as he is substituted
However, Eriksen has proved in the past, and especially in the recent win over Manchester City, that he has a tenacity that belies his more lightweight build. The Dane made a series of tackles and interventions in a deeper central midfield role, and looked a genuine option in the pivot.
Of course, Pochettino may be wanting to have an alternative to Eriksen, if the 24-year-old were to suffer form or injury problems, and it is a reasonable idea, given how unique his qualities are. But it is unlikely the Argentine would be able to keep both Eriksen and Isco happy if one were to play second fiddle to the other, or even if they shared matches. With both players in the team Spurs would lose a lot of the physical presence that makes the side what they are.
Considering the transfer fee Isco would demand, as well as his probably expectations of being a key player at White Hart Lane, it may be that Mauricio Pochettino consider other areas of the team to strengthen ahead of pushing hard to bring the Spain international to London.
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