Real Madrid Transfer News: Latest Rumours on Isco and David Alaba

Real Madrid playmaker Isco has insisted he is not thinking about leaving the club any time soon despite speculation about his future.

The Spain international has been in and out of the team under manager Zinedine Zidane but showed what he’s capable of with a wonderful performance in Saturday’s 3-0 win over Atletico Madrid. When asked about his contract, set to expire in 2018, Isco insisted he remains committed to the cause.

“I'm asked this every time I speak [to the media],” he said, per Sport. “I still have two years left. I am not thinking about it at the moment. We will see what happens.”

SB Nation’s Lucas Navarette praised the display of Isco in the derby win at the Vicente Calderon:

Indeed, while Cristiano Ronaldo’s hat-trick means he will grab the headlines, the midfielder played a starring role for Los Blancos.

Used in his preferred No. 10 position, Isco was all over the pitch, finding spaces, linking the play and causing issues for the Atletico defence with his tight control. It was the kind of showing the 24-year-old is capable of but isn’t seen on a consistent enough basis.

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Typically, in these matches, Zidane would field Casemiro instead of a split striker. But injuries meant Isco was handed a chance and the manager was delighted with his application, as noted by Sid Lowe of the Guardian:

If Isco turned in performances like the one on Saturday on a regular basis then there’s no way the Frenchman could leave him out of the team. However, so fierce is the competition for places at the Bernabeu, any slacking in standards means there’s a quality operator ready to step in.

With Alvaro Morata and Karim Benzema both injured, Isco needs to preserve these levels in the weeks to come. Should he do so, he’ll be a first-team regular for Real and a new contract would surely follow.

Manchester United in for David Alaba 

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According to Tom Hopkinson of the Sunday People (h/t the Sunday Mirror), Manchester United will try to pip Real Madrid to the signing of Bayern Munich left-back David Alaba.

Red Devils boss Jose Mourinho “would love to beat his old club Real Madrid to the player’s signature.” Although Alaba recently signed a new contract with the German champions until 2021, Hopkinson stated United will not be put off in their pursuit.

The 24-year-old has been a model of consistency at the Allianz Arena, thriving on the left flank. Here’s why so many consider him the best left-back on the planet:

Alaba is physical, energetic and excellent in possession. The footballing intelligence he possesses also allows him to excel in different areas of the pitch, having played at centre-back for Bayern and in the centre of midfield regularly for his country.

As noted by OptaFranz recently, despite his tender years, Alaba has already amassed a massive amount of appearances for the German giants:

Given what he’s achieved with Bayern, perhaps the Austrian will be keen to sample a different league and enjoy some new challenges. However, his willingness to commit to the club for another five years doesn’t suggest that’s the case.

In Marcelo, Madrid have a player who could rival Alaba in the scrap to be known as the best left-back on the planet, so they aren’t in desperate need of a player in that position. However, if Los Blancos are pondering a successor to the Brazilian, there aren’t many better candidates than the Austrian.