Real Madrid Transfer News: Latest Rumours on Isco and James Rodriguez

Real Madrid could lose the services of midfield misfit Isco this January, with the player reportedly keen on the idea of an exit from the Santiago Bernabeu. Elsewhere, James Rodriguez has quashed talk of a move by defending his relationship with manager Zinedine Zidane.

Spanish outlet Ok Diario Madridista (h/t Calciomercato) reported Isco is ready to end his limbo at Real and call it quits this winter, having now struggled to fit into Los Blancos' starting XI for several seasons. 

Isco recently pounced on his opportunity to start under Zidane with a two-goal display in October's 6-1 hammering of Real Betis, one of just two 90-minute performances he's enjoyed this season.

Real Madrid TV presenter Phil Kitromilides confirmed Isco's recent upturn in form was enough to earn a call-up to Spain manager Julen Lopetegui's national squad, showing even his club struggles can't hide his obvious talent:

Tottenham Hotspur were associated with the player at the end of last summer, and Calciomercato mentioned the north Londoners once again this time around, as well as Bayern Munich and Italian giants Juventus.

The sad truth for Isco is that a midfield already containing the likes of Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Casemiro will always be hard to crack, although Yahoo's Andrew Gaffney suggested the club could offer him a new contract:

Meanwhile, Rodriguez has defended his bit-part role at the Bernabeu and admitted that while he would like to play more under Zidane, his relationship with the coach isn't as unusual as some would believe.

The 25-year-old recently spoke to Colombian television station RCN (h/t ESPN FC) and reassured Real fans it is his intention to keep fighting for a place in Zidane's starting lineup:

"

It is not how everyone says. It is a relationship that is fit between a player and a coach.

I'm in a club where everyone wants to win and you are always needed to play well. It is the biggest [club] worldwide -- that is Real Madrid.

I want to play more. But hey, there's someone [Zidane] who commands all and it is he who says who plays, who does not play.

He takes decisions and he calls the shots. You have to respect all that.

"

It's an impressive show of humility from Rodriguez, who arrived in Spain's capital from AS Monaco for a staggering €80 million following his Golden Boot-winning display at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

The winger is in a similar position to Isco in that winning his place in Real's starting lineup has become incredibly difficult, although he continues to display supreme technique in training:

Rodriguez is in his second season with the Spanish powerhouse and has failed to feature in any of the club's last five league games, sitting on the bench for four of those, while he was injured for another.

It would appear the Colombia superstar has more hope than Isco at present, although more omissions from Zidane's team could see his stance on the matter change.