According to the Daily Mirror, Everton are interested in Isco and may have to battle Arsenal, Juventus and Sevilla to procure his signature. The 28-year-old has an uncertain future at Real Madrid and may be open to renewing acquaintances with former teammate James Rodriguez and manager Carlo Ancelotti.
I believe we should go all out to sign Isco at the next available opportunity. He’s a considerable improvement on Gylfi Sigurdsson and Bernard that wouldn’t break the bank. The Mirror say we could loan Isco for the remainder of the season and sign him permanently next summer, so I think we should strike while the iron is hot.
Why might Isco leave Real?
The Spanish international joined Real from Malaga in 2013 and has gone on to make 312 appearances in all competitions, scoring 51 goals with 54 assists, but he’s waned in recent seasons.
In 2018/19, Isco scored only three goals and made just one assist in 27 Liga games. In 2019/20, he scored only one goal and made just two assists in 23 Liga games. And in 2020/21, the 28-year-old is without a goal or assist in five Liga games.
Isco has featured in five of Real’s 10 games this season, amassing 177/900 minutes of football, so it doesn’t appear he’s in Zinedine Zidane’s plans moving forwards.
With Martin Odegaard, Eden Hazard, Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo, Marco Asensio and Lucas Vazquez preferred in attacking roles, Isco might have to leave.
Would he be open to joining Everton?
The Mirror seem to think so. Their report says that Isco is good friends with James and would jump at the chance to play with the Colombian international again. Ancelotti being at Goodison Park might also be a lure for the playmaker, so there is a good chance he comes in January.
Isco hasn’t been at his best in the last couple of seasons in Spain, but he’s a talented player who may thrive in a new environment. James has impressed early on for us, so there’s no reason why Isco can’t turn things around on Merseyside too.
Ancelotti has played down talk of signing him, but it’s worth keeping an eye on this story.
In other news, Everton have been linked with a move for Orbelin Pineda, but who is he?