Reports: Real Madrid 'prepared' to let Isco leave permanently in January
Real Madrid are prepared to let Isco leave the club in the coming winter transfer window. The 24-year-old doesn't look he's in Zinedine Zidane's plans for the season having only started one game this season and only because the club were missing many potential first-team starters.
The Spanish international has been linked with a move away from the club for a while now having failed to nail down a starting spot. With James Rodriguez now impressing on big occasions, it looks like the club are willing to give the Colombian an extended run even if it means they could lose Isco.
The former Malaga midfielder was reportedly close to re-joining Malaga in the summer on a season-long loan deal but the deal fell through on deadline day keeping him at the Santiago Bernabeu till at least January.
Meanwhile, Premier League behemoths Arsenal and Chelsea remain interested in signing Isco whose contract with Real Madrid ends in 2018. A move in the winter transfer window could be on if an interested club is willing to spend between €20m – €30m on the 24-year-old.
Isco made 43 appearances for the Los Blancos last season scoring 5 goals and assisting a further 12 more but with most of his appearances coming from the bench, he was excluded from the Spanish national team that participated in the UEFA European Championships - a big blow for someone looking to impress on the biggest of stages.
The only way Isco gets back into the national team and prove what a talented footballer he is, he needs games. Malaga and the Premier League are options for the midfielder but should he choose to leave Real Madrid, they'll be interested in selling him outright rather than loan him out given he has less than 24 months on his contract.