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Football

30th Dec 2018

Paris Saint-Germain keen to sign Isco after Real Madrid name asking price

Isco looks set to leave Real Madrid this winter after a run of bad performances for Real Madrid in the first half of the season, but he won't go cheaply

Reuben Pinder

He won’t go cheaply

Paris Saint-Germain have joined the race to sign out of favour Real Madrid midfielder Isco, after a series of underwhelming performances have seen him edge closer to the exit door.

First under Julen Lopetegui and now under Santi Solari, Isco has not managed to nail down a place in the starting XI, with Toni Kroos and Ballon d’Or winner Luka Modrić keeping him on the bench.

It’s not a new problem for Isco; in his first season at Madrid he was used by Carlo Ancelotti as a squad player, with Angel Di Maria taking the third midfield slot ahead of Modrić and Xabi Alonso.

Later on during the Zinedine Zidane era, he had James Rodriguez to compete with as well as Kroos, but did manage to break into the starting XI after Zizou switched to a 4-4-2 diamond system.

However, the 26-yea-old how found himself on the bench again and struggling to make an impact as a substitute, and will therefore leave in January, it seems.

PSG are the latest club to join the list of clubs queueing up to sign the playmaker, according to Paris United, who claim that PSG owner Nasser Al-Khelaïfi has met with Isco’s father, Paco Alarcón, to discuss a possible move.

Various reports have claimed that Madrid will want somewhere in the region of £80m-£100m for the player, who remains a key part of Luis Enrique’s Spain team.

Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea have also reportedly shown interest as they look to bolster their squads in the race to consolidate Champions League football next season.

If it’s game time he’s after, Chelsea would probably be his best bet, as he would have Paul Pogba to compete with at United, and the likes of David Silva, Bernardo and Kevin de Bruyne in his way at City.

PSG are likely to lose Adrien Rabiot in the January window, so will need to bolster their midfield options if they are to compete in every competition.