Isco, Real Madrid Contract Extension Reportedly Close Amid Barcelona Rumours

Real Madrid are said to be close to agreeing a contract extension with their midfielder Isco, potentially putting an end to speculation linking him with a move to Barcelona. 

According to Tomas Roncero of AS, Los Blancos and the Spain international are "closer than ever to reaching an agreement" on a new deal at the Santiago Bernabeu, with Isco's current contract set to expire in the summer of 2018. He will reportedly pick up an annual salary of €8 million (£7 million) as part of his fresh terms.

Roncero continued, noting that a clutch of clubs have been monitoring the player's situation, with Barcelona among them.

"All of them have guaranteed improved economic terms and a prominent role within their respective sporting projects," the report suggested. "However, despite the fact that he has found himself on the bench more than he would like, Isco's priority has always been Real Madrid."

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For Madrid, getting Isco tied down is fantastic news for a variety of reasons. But, primarily, many Madridistas expect the 24-year-old to play a big part in the club's future. Here's a reminder of why:

Despite his obvious talent, technical ability and flair, it's not been plain sailing for Isco since his move from Malaga to Madrid in 2013.

During his time at the club he’s never been considered as a first-team regular. In the current setup, when everyone in the squad is fit, Zinedine Zidane rarely finds a place for Isco, with a more robust midfield trio preferred behind an attack of Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Needless to say, the constant rotation has made it difficult to build momentum, and his performances have been inconsistent at times. Per Lucas Navarette of Managing Madrid, there have subsequently been concerns about this precocious talent departing the Santiago Bernabeu:

But recently there have been moments of maturity mixed in with the majesty from Isco. In the 2015-16 UEFA Champions League final he was magnificent coming off the bench, while earlier in the current campaign he was sensational in a 3-0 win for his team against Atletico Madrid at the Vicente Calderon.

Isco also helped Madrid recover a 2-0 deficit against Villarreal recently, entering the game as a second-half substitute and sparking the European champions into life. 

It seems as though he's doing his utmost to prove his worth to Zidane. These figures from OptaJose would suggest he's succeeding:

Of course, some will question why Isco has signed this new deal. For the foreseeable future it's difficult to see Zidane changing to a different game plan for big games given how well it has served him so far. As a result, the Spain international may find himself continuing to assume the role as impact substitute in the most important contests for now.

But for the first time in a while, there seems to be impetus building behind Isco, as he continues to make positive contributions on the field on a consistent basis this season. Provided he preserves those standards, Zidane is going to find it very difficult to leave him out for much longer.