As we build-up to the January transfer window, Isco to Everton is a rumour that looks likely to run and run.
Despite attempts from both sides to play down the rumour, with Everton boss Ancelotti denying them yesterday and his agent claiming there have been no talks, the story won’t die.
Indeed, it was given extra impetus last night when Marca reported that Isco is ready to leave Real Madrid and will listen to offers, even as early as January.
Thus it’s likely that we’ll hear plenty about a move to Everton in the next month, particularly is James Rodriguez continues to shine on Merseyside.
But why is Isco now ready to leave the Bernabeu? That’s a question Marca have looked to answer today, revealing the ‘reasons’ why he has changed his mind.
The first of these are his ‘exhausted cycle’ at the club, with it claimed that after seven years and 16 titles, he believes his time at the club can be ended.
While he played a ‘major role’ under Ancelotti and even in Zinedine Zidane’s first spell, and more so under Julen Lopetegui, that has now changed.
He fell out of favour under Santiago Solari, and that has continued with Zidane, and he now believes it is time to ‘close a stage’ while it still remains positive.
Secondary to that, Isco is keen on ‘recovering his status’ with a move. The midfielder is considered a player who can ‘be a determining factor’, but that does not look the case in Madrid.
He wants a move elsewhere to rediscover that and get back to what he was, which brings us neatly to his third reason, the Spanish national team.
When Luis Enrique took over the former world champions, Isco was one of the key players, with the manager even allowing the midfielder to choose where he played.
Today he is ‘forgotten’ by the team, with his absence less of a surprise and more ‘expected’ at this point.
Isco knows if he stays in Madrid, he can say goodbye to the Euros next summer but if he were to change in January to a team where he can ‘show his football again’ that could give him a shot at making the tournament.
Last but not least, it’s explained that the player’s contract situation makes a move in January ‘logical’ as well.
Isco’s current deal expires in 2022 meaning next summer he will be in the final year of his deal, so the ball is in his court.
Either Madrid sanction a move in January, or he can ‘exhaust his contract’ and leave on a free the following year instead.
That’s an extreme that they’re not considering at this point but one they can undoubtedly use and something it seems they will use to their advantage.
Basically, there are plenty of reasons why Isco is now considering a move and those rumours about Everton look unlikely to go away anytime soon.
