Patrick Rees
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is reportedly keen on signing Real Madrid midfielder Isco in the summer ahead of rivals Manchester City, quotes a report from Spanish news outlet Don Balon.
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City are well on course to clinch the Premier League title this season but the Spaniard believes there is a dire need for reinforcement in the attacking unit. Isco is reportedly frustrated by the amount of game time he is getting under Zinedine Zidane and reports from Spain have started linking him with a potential move away from the club.
Manchester City were previously thought to be the front-runners but the fact that they are getting close to signing Fred from Shakhtar Donetsk in the summer may give United a potential upper hand. According to a report from the Daily Mirror, The Cityzens have agreed to pay a whopping £50million for the Brazilian midfielder and the 24-year-old could complete his move in the summer.
Manchester United acquired Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal recently and as far as Jose Mourinho is concerned, the Portuguese, last month, had quoted that he has no interest in signing more attacking players. However, same may not be the case come summer, as a couple of departures could well and truly happen. Mourinho is perfectly aware as to what kind of an impact Isco can make, hence he has reportedly asked the Manchester United board to not miss an opportunity if Real open the door for Isco.
Don Balon adds that United are willing to fork out as much as €150million for the midfielder and are also ready to make him one of the club’s highest paid players alongside Paul Pogba. Isco has started 10 La Liga games this term, scoring 5 goals, and is certainly not happy with the time he is getting under Zidane. But the French manager, however, has said that he wants Isco to stay with Madrid for the entirety of his career.
“I believe in what I do, and I want Isco to stay here his whole life,” Zidane was quoted by Daily Star.
“Isco is a very good player. So El Chiringuito’s report is a lie, and I am answering in order to put an end to this.
“We have 25 players and everyone is important. Perhaps Isco won’t play every game but I am counting on him.”
It now remains to be seen how true the news is. Given the options Mourinho has at his disposal at the moment, Isco seems like an unrealistic target, to say the least.
