Tottenham Transfer News: Latest Rumours on Isco and Eric Dier

Tottenham Hotspur target Isco will not leave Real Madrid in the January transfer window, according to Spanish football expert Guillem Balague.

Spurs have long been linked with the Spanish playmaker, and his recent lack of action under Los Blancos manager Zinedine Zidane prompted reports that the north London side could move for him in the new year, per Tom Collomosse in the Evening Standard.

However, per Balague on Sky Sports News HQ, the 24-year-old Isco—whose current contract with Real runs until June 2018—will stay put at the Santiago Bernabeu until the summer at least: "With all the injuries it’s a chance for Isco to show he is a Real Madrid player and has the quality to stay. There have been rumours he will leave in January, that’s not true at all, he will stay until the end of the season."

Before Saturday, Isco had started only one La Liga game in 2016-17, prompting speculation that he may be surplus to requirements at Madrid, per Collomosse.

He was included in Zidane's starting XI for Real's trip to Real Betis, though, and netted twice in a 6-1 victory—the Madrid outfit's first win in five matches in all competitions. 

The former Malaga man has always had huge potential, and his ability on the ball is fantastic, per WhoScored.com:

Isco's problem since his move to Real in 2013 has been earning a consistent first-team place ahead of the numerous quality forwards on the Bernabeu books.

His lack of game time was the main reason cited by many that he could be open to a move away from Real.

But if he puts in a few more displays like the one against Betis, any thoughts that Real would be prepared to let him go will disappear.

It seems Spurs will have to wait until the end of the season anyway to have any chance of snapping him up, but even then it may prove a challenge if he becomes a regular in Zidane's starting XI.

Elsewhere, Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has warned midfielder Eric Dier that the summer arrival of Victor Wanyama means he is no longer guaranteed a first-team spot.

Michael Regan/Getty Images

Dier, 22, emerged as one of Spurs' star players last season. He started 37 of the club's 38 Premier League games as they sustained a title challenge almost to the end of the campaign.

However, he has started only five of Spurs' eight Premier League games in the new term, while Wanyama—an £11 million June signing from Southampton—has been an ever-present in Pochettino's starting lineups.

And the Argentinian manager has hinted that the improvement in the squad could see Dier forced out of contention, per Sam Cunningham in the Daily Mail:

"

We’ll see what happens but football is about 25 [players]. Maybe last season there was only him, this season we want to improve our squad. It’s not a problem. 

Now the players need to feel the competition. There is Wanyama in his position too. And don’t forget Harry Winks too, who is coming and pushing a lot from behind. You have to look forward and carry on working.

"

Dier is a hugely talented young player, and there is little chance of him being pushed to the fringes of the Spurs squad and deemed unnecessary any time in the near future. 

But Pochettino's comments will likely convince all those at White Hart Lane that no player is untouchable and a high level must be constantly maintained to earn a starting spot.