Manchester City are reportedly plotting a £75 million raid on Real Madrid to sign Spanish midfielder Isco in the summer.
According to a report by The Sun, Manchester City are ready to step up their pursuit of Isco, and are determined to land him in the summer transfer window. The Premier League champions-elect are ready to lodge a £75 million bid to secure the services of the Real Madrid midfielder.
Isco’s time at Real Madrid has been a mixed bag, with the player never quite managing to cement his status as a regular over the last five seasons. While he has enjoyed periods of success at the Bernabeu, his form has often petered out, resulting in a drop down the pecking order.
The same has been prevalent this season as well, with Isco starting the season as one of the first names on the team sheet for Zinedine Zidane to now being behind Lucas Vazquez, Marco Asensio and Gareth Bale for the final attacking spot in the lineup. As a result, there have been murmurings of a move away from Real Madrid, with Manchester City interested.
The Premier League heavyweights have been in pursuit of the Real Madrid midfielder for well over a year now, with Pep Guardiola believed to be an admirer of his talents. Manchester City had also tried to sign him last summer, but a move had failed to materialise.
Heading into this summer’s transfer window, Manchester City seem to be in the market for a midfielder, with David Silva’s personal problems often making him unavailable. The Spaniard is also on the wrong side of 30, and with Ilkay Gundogan the only other creative option beyond Kevin De Bruyne, Isco seems to be a viable target.
The player himself is finally prepared to leave Real Madrid and join Manchester City, having previously snubbed the advances of the Citizens. Isco believes his position at the Bernabeu is unlikely to improve much with Zidane planning a summer revamp.
Manchester City, meanwhile, are ready to test the resolve of Real Madrid by putting a £75 million bid on the table. They are also willing to bump up his £140,000-a-week wages to completely convince him to make the switch to Etihad.
The report suggests that Real Madrid might be open to selling Isco, and it remains to be seen if Manchester City can finally secure his services this summer, or if some other club swoops him away instead.
