Real Madrid Transfer News: Big-Money Deals Rumoured for January Window

How do you improve a side oozing hundreds of millions of pounds worth of talent, currently holding the Champions League trophy and destined for more silverware this season?

Simple—bring in arguably the greatest player ever to grace a football pitch.

Some will argue that Real Madrid already have that in Cristiano Ronaldo, but it’s Ballon d’Or rival Lionel Messi who could potentially be donning the famous white shirt.

Such a thought seems utterly ludicrous, but it’s come straight from the horse’s mouth, as Messi recently cast doubt on his Barcelona future in an interview with Argentinian newspaper Ole—reported via ESPN FC:

"

I live the present. All I am thinking about is making this a great year and winning titles, and that's it. After that, we'll see. Football is full of unexpected twists and turns ... it is true that I said I would like to stay there [at Barcelona] forever, but sometimes not everything turns out the way you want.

"

David Ramos/Getty Images

It’s one of those quotes that you have to read again and again just to make sure it was actually said, but it really was!

Messi is worth a seemingly infinite amount of money, and there are only a few clubs in the world that could afford to bring him in—one of them being Real Madrid.

Andres Kudacki/Associated Press

And with that in mind, manager Carlo Ancelotti has added fuel to the transfer fire by saying that he would sign Messi at a recent press conference—via Alec Fenn of Goal.com:

"Messi could be a fix at Real Madrid? All quality teams have space in their side for quality players."

Can you imagine being a La Liga defender if the ridiculous happens and Messi does switch to the Bernabeu? Having a front three of Ronaldo, Messi and Gareth Bale bearing down on you is the stuff of nightmares and also the stuff of a fantasy 11.

Jon Super/Associated Press

In that respect, it’s a shame that the likelihood of the move going ahead is next to nil, with Mundo Deportivo and Barca manager Luis Enrique playing it down (via Messi Stats and AS English):

"

PICTURE | Messi on the front page of @mundodeportivo today: 'MESSI IS HAPPY IN BARCELONA' pic.twitter.com/DNpzE54k7j

— MESSISTATS (@MessiStats) November 21, 2014"

All that’s left is for Messi to come out and dedicate his future to the Nou Camp, which, if these rumours continue to circulate, will be sooner rather than later.

Isco Future

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Until this season, mercurial midfielder Isco seemed a little surplus to requirements at the Bernabeu, with Real’s wealth of attacking talent keeping him out of the side.

The injury to Bale at the start of the year has turned out to be the best thing to ever happen to the young Spaniard, though, who has showed the world just how effective he can be when given a bit of match time.

However, the fact that he’s not as household a name as the likes of Ronaldo, Bale and James Rodriguez are means that clubs will fancy their chances of luring Isco away from the Spanish capital in the January transfer window—including Arsenal.

Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

As Chisanga Malata of the Daily Star reported, the Gunners are preparing a deal worth £40 million to try to get Isco in red, with Liverpool also sniffing around for the 22-year-old’s signature.

While such a sum of money is staggering, the way that Isco is maturing into a world-beating player means that his value is only going up, and clubs that think they have a chance of signing him are very sadly mistaken.

Besides, the player himself appears rather settled with life at the Bernabeu, saying earlier this month that he wants to continue enjoying success with Real—via Malata:

"

My feelings on my career at Madrid are very positive. I'm in the best team in the world, we are winning titles, we achieved La Decima [last season] and hopefully we can continue that. I think the best place to keep winning titles is Real Madrid.

"

Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

With players like Isco in the side, "the best place to keep winning titles" is indeed Real, who have the look of a side that’s going to dominate football for years to come.

The January transfer window will give Ancelotti the chance to improve his personnel, but quite frankly, it’s difficult to see any way that that’s a distinct possibility.