Our View: Isco transfer speculation – Could Real Madrid star join Arsenal?

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Isco’s season so far

Isco is one of the best attacking midfielders in the world, but the Spain international is struggling for playing time at Real Madrid at the moment.

The 28-year-old has fallen down the pecking order at Madrid, and it is going to be extremely hard for him to play regularly in Zinedine Zidane’s team in the coming weeks and months.

According to WhoScored, Isco has made three starts and six substitute appearances in La Liga and has played just 13 minutes in the Champions League for Los Blancos so far this season.

Arsenal’s interest in Isco

According to a report in Defensa Central in November, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has asked the Premier League club to sign Isco on a loan deal in January with a view to a permanent transfer in the summer of 2021, as covered by HITC Sport here.

Why might Isco move?

Isco is not getting any younger, and with a place in the Spain squad for the European Championship at stake, the attacking midfielder will want to play regular first-team football in the coming weeks and months.

Having won the La Liga title twice and the Champions League on four occasions with Madrid so far in his career, the 28-year-old does not have to prove anything to anyone.

How much would Isco cost?

Isco cost Madrid £23 million in transfer fees when they signed him from Malaga in the summer of 2013, as reported by The Guardian at the time.

Transfermarkt value Isco at £18 million at the moment, while the CIES Football Observatory rates the Spaniard at between €7-10 million (£6.38-£9.12 million).

There are financial problems at Madrid, who could be open to selling Isco for a relatively low transfer fee in January.

Could Isco end up at Arsenal?

Arsenal could do with more creativity in their attacking midfield. If Arteta does not get Mesut Ozil back into his squad in January, then a loan move for Isco would make sense.

The Gunners are a big club and are playing in the Europa League, and the chance to play regular first-team football and be a key figure in the team could be tempting for Isco.