Mikel Arteta has asked Arsenal to make a January loan move for Real Madrid midfielder Isco before signing him permanently next summer.
That’s according to Defensa Central, who say the Spanish coach believes his compatriot would be the ‘perfect fit’ for the Gunners.
Isco has been linked with a move away from the Bernabeu in January, having fallen out of favour under Zinedine Zidane.
It was recently revealed in Spain that he has formally requested a transfer and the Spanish giants are keen to sell given his contract expires in 2022.
Several Premier League sides have been linked with an interest, none more so than Everton, who are of course managed by Carlo Ancelotti.
He was a big fan of Isco during his time in charge of Real Madrid, and it has been speculated that that relationship, plus James Rodriguez’s resurgence at Goodison Park, has made them viable candidates for his signature.
However, it appears they now face competition from Arsenal, with Defensa Central claiming that Arteta has asked ‘the Arsenal leaders’ to secure Isco on loan in January.
So far no formal offer has been made, but the idea is to secure a loan deal that would include a purchase option for the end of the season.
The Gunners are considered a good option for the player given Dani Ceballos has enjoyed success there, but Madrid are ‘not enthusiastic’ about a move in January.
Instead, they would prefer to deal with a move next summer once the season is over and they can look at reinforcements at the same time.
Fortunately for Arsenal, one side they won’t have to compete with is Manchester City.
They had also been linked with a move, with Pep Guardiola having been named as a fan of Isco for several years, but according to El Confidencial that is a ‘false interest’.
They report that Manchester City have no interest in the midfielder and Guardiola himself has ‘ruled out his signing’ because he is the ‘antithesis’ of the player he is looking for.
He wants signings like Ferran Torres, a player who ‘plays first’ and is ‘unbalanced with his dynamism’, not Isco, who ‘kicks the ball and then sleeps the game’.
Interestingly, El Confidencial also say that it is not Isco pushing for a move, but Madrid and they are playing a media game to ensure a top price.
It is the club who leaked he wants to leave in order ‘not to depreciate him’ while media related to the club have suggested a swap with Christian Eriksen to ‘inflate the price’ for Isco.
All in all, it’s something of a mess, and whether it’s Arsenal or Everton making the move, it seems they have something of a minefield to negotiate.
