Arsenal are ready to relinquish their reported pursuit of Real Madrid playmaker Isco, who is tipped for a move to Sevilla.
According to AS, Arsenal’s reported pursuit of Isco could be on the verge of a collapse, partly due to the player’s desire to join Sevilla. Indeed, the Real Madrid playmaker, who is expected to leave Santiago Bernabeu in January, has been courted by the Spanish giants as they look to bolster their creative unit.
As a result, Mikel Arteta is now ready to move on and instead, plot move for other targets. A key reason behind Arsenal cooling interest in Isco is the sudden emergence of Emile Smith Rowe. The youngster has enjoyed a rapid rise to prominence after initially performing well in the win over Chelsea, helping the Gunners secure three back-to-back victories in the Premier League.
In fact, Smith Rowe has already registered two assists in the last two matches. His ability to work in tight spaces, combined with his clever movements and good link-up has added some much-needed creativity in the final third. And it has been reflected in the results, with the club notably sealing a thumping 4-0 win over West Bromwich Albion on the weekend.
It only bodes well for Arsenal, who can now invest in other positions as Arteta looks to add more quality to his side following a disappointing start to the campaign. The Gunners have recently been linked with a lot of strikers, including Atletico Madrid forward and former Chelsea superstar Diego Costa.
It appears that Arteta is keen on finding a solid alternative for the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette, although the latter is in fine form at the moment.
Alternatively, Arsenal may also want a new midfielder – someone who can provide good competition for Mohamed Elneny and Granit Xhaka. Joan Jordan, in particular, has emerged as one of the multiple potential targets for the north London giants, so it will be interesting to see how this transfer saga pans out this month.
As for Real Madrid, the potential departure of Isco to Sevilla could significantly strengthen their direct league rivals. So it won’t be surprising to see Zinedine Zidane and the board blocking the transfer, knowing the fact that the playmaker’s contract doesn’t expire until the end of next season.
It remains to be seen what the January transfer window holds in store for Isco. But, as things stand, a potential move to Arsenal seems to be off.
