Real Madrid Transfer News: City's Isco Interest Dismissed in Latest Rumours

Manchester City reportedly have no interest in signing Real Madrid midfielder Isco this summer amid speculation linking the Premier League leaders with a swoop for the Spaniard.

According to Stuart Brennan of the Manchester Evening News, while City are long-term admirers of Isco, the club's hierarchy will not pursue any transfer at the end of the campaign.

"They had made Isco their number one target in the summer of 2013, when incoming manager Manuel Pellegrini earmarked him as the man to transform City's midfield," Brennan noted. "But that bid was thwarted when Isco had a brilliant tournament at the European Under-21 Championship, and Madrid intervened to snatch him from under their noses."

Per the report, rumours have persisted since then, and during the international break Isco made comments suggesting he wasn't content with life under Zinedine Zidane in Madrid.

David McDonnell of the Daily Mirror reported that City were confident they would be able to prise the player away from the Santiago Bernabeu with an offer of around £75 million.

While City have a collection of midfielders as good as any side in world football, Isco is a signing that'd excite supporters. As noted by Greg Johnson of Football.London, it'd make the Etihad Stadium outfit a formidable football team:

Isco's time at Real Madrid has been full of inconsistency, although late last season things clicked into gear for the former Malaga man.

With Gareth Bale out of the side with an injury, Isco was handed regular starts and freedom from a position on the right flank. He was sensational, knitting attacks together and helping Madrid finish the season with the UEFA Champions League and La Liga title.

Matthias Hangst/Getty Images

This term hasn't been quite as prosperous, although Isco offered a reminder of what he can do during an outing for Spain, bagging a hat-trick in the 6-1 mauling of Argentina. Afterwards, he said "maybe the problem is me" at Madrid, per The Independent. 

Per Phil Kitromilides of Real Madrid TV, the Los Blancos boss has insisted that Isco won't be moving anywhere:

If there is a change of heart from Real, City appear unlikely to be suitors; according to Brennan, City manager Pep Guardiola has other players in mind to strengthen his attack. Per City Watch, there are already a number of creative forces in the side, too:

Madridistas will remember how imperious Isco was late last season and hope he can scale those heights again. 

Zidane appears keen to keep him on board, and at 25, the midfielder should be approaching the peak years of his career. It'd no doubt be galling if Madrid were to let their No. 22 move on, only to see him blossom again elsewhere.