Arsenal Transfer News: Santi Cazorla Contract Update, Latest on Isco Rumours

Arsenal midfielder Santo Cazorla has revealed the club has yet to offer him a new contract, while reports say Real Manager Zinedine Zidane will not allow Isco to leave the club during the January transfer window.

Cazorla has been one of the Gunners' standout players during the 2016-17 season, and with his contract set to run out next season, the Spaniard and Arsenal will have to come to some agreement soon to ensure he stays at the Emirates Stadium.

Speaking to Cadena Ser (h/t Metro's Tom Olver), the 31-year-old has revealed Arsenal have yet to approach him regarding a new deal:

"

No, I don’t have any news from the club regarding a new contract.

My focus now is on playing and to be able to enjoy playing football following a season when I had lots of injury problems.

I hope I can stay here and continue to play. I am happy here. What a player wants is to play and to feel important.

Fortunately, since I arrived at Arsenal, I’ve had the confidence of the coach and of my teammates. I’ve played a lot of minutes. In the end, that is what every player wants.

"

Cazorla has been with Arsenal since 2012 and has established himself as one of the team's key midfielders in that span. He acts as the side's main creative output from a deeper position, freeing up Mesut Ozil to do much of the same from a more advanced spot.

Per Olver, he has already scored twice in the current Premier League campaign, but it's his passing that usually makes the difference. The Spain international is a key link between defence and attack, and his range allows the Gunners to play at the incredible pace they do in the wide areas.

He's also a fan favourite who frequently takes the time to pose for photos or sign autographs. Indian journalist Harsha Bhogle recently shared this photo:

The Gunners appear to have every reason to extend Cazorla as soon as possible, but he'll be 33 by the time his current contract expires, and his age complicates matters. His playing style, based around passing and vision, means he should still be an effective player by that time, but many footballers quickly lose their effectiveness once they reach their mid-30s.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has always done a fine job of getting the most out of older players for as long as possible, but he also tends to be careful with veterans and the type of wages he usually offers.

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Cazorla is deserving of a new deal, but the length and total value is something the Gunners have to consider―they don't want to be left with an ineffective veteran taking up a huge chunk of the wage budget, which is always a risk with older players. Cazorla missed a significant amount of time through injury last season, which will also be a factor.

Meanwhile, Spanish daily AS (h/t Calciomercato.com's Lorenzo Bettoni) reports Real manager Zidane will block any sale of midfielder Isco, as he has no intention of letting the Spaniard walk while the club faces a transfer embargo.

Calciomercato.com (h/t Lucas Sposito of Sport Witness) previously reported Isco might be available at a discount, with Los Blancos wanting just £26 million for the out-of-favour star. The Gunners were linked with Isco during the summer, per Tuttomercatoweb.com (h/t Joe Short of the Express).

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Isco has been an afterthought under Zidane since the latter took control of the team, but a series of injuries has given him a chance to impress and get some consistent minutes under his belt, per La Liga blogger Sergi Dominguez:

The 24-year-old is routinely linked with moves away from the Spanish capital, and the emergence of young star Marco Asensio has dented his chances of salvaging his Blancos career even further.

At his best, Isco is a devastating attacking weapon with the versatility to play in a central role or out wide. Here's a look at some of his highlights:

An eventual transfer seems inevitable, but Real are unlikely to sanction a sale during a transfer embargo, knowing they have no way of bringing in a replacement.