Real Madrid Transfer News: Isco Reportedly Upset, Tempted to Leave Amid Rumours

Real Madrid midfielder Isco is reportedly unhappy at the club and could push for a transfer in the January window.

That’s according to Tuttomercatoweb.com, where it is stated the player is "upset" and "more and more tempted to leave Real Madrid in January."

The Spain international’s contract with the club runs until 2018, with Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Juventus, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain all said to be interested in bringing him in.

According to Sky Sports’ Spanish football expert Guillem Balague, Tottenham did make a play to sign the midfielder before the summer transfer window closed, although the deal didn’t come to fruition.

It’s left Isco in a big battle for his place at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, with a mass of attacking options available to manager Zinedine Zidane.

Here’s a look at what the 24-year-old can offer when he’s in the team and on form:

As talented as he is, Isco’s starts look set to be numbered this season. Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo are nailed on starters in Zidane’s side, meaning the former Malaga man faces a battle with the likes of James Rodriguez, Lucas Vazquez and Marco Asensio for the third attacking-midfield spot.

As noted by Dermot Corrigan of ESPN FC, despite having recovered from a recent injury problem, Isco wasn’t included in the matchday squad for Real’s clash with Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday:

Indeed, there are occasions when Zidane doesn’t even choose to field a No. 10 in big games, instead opting for the security of Casemiro alongside Toni Kroos and Luka Modric in midfield. So despite his technical flair, versatility and ability to make key contributions in the final third, Isco finds himself in a testing situation.

Isco has made some important impressions off the bench during his time at the club, most notably in the final of the UEFA Champions League earlier this year against Atletico Madrid. His ability to carry the ball and keep possession was invaluable as Real sought to stave off pressure in extra time.

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While the midfielder’s starts have been limited since Zidane took over at the club, these numbers from OptaJose show that he’s featured for the team on plenty of occasions over the course of the last few seasons:

Yet for a player of such grace, a bit-part role will be unfulfilling. When Isco left Malaga for Madrid in 2013, he was considered the finest prospect in Spanish football, having lit up both LaLiga and the Champions League with some mesmeric displays; at this summer’s UEFA European Championship, he didn’t even make the tournament squad.

Provided he continues to operate on the fringes of this team, Isco will never fully realise the immense potential he has shown in the past. Teams like Spurs, Arsenal and Juventus would place him at the crux of their attacking setup.

At this stage of his career, you sense Isco needs that kind of responsibility to kick on again.