Premier League transfer news a gossip
Isco escape route
Isco is having what The Sun describes as a “Real Madrid nightmare” and the paper says Arsenal and Manchester United are vying to offer him a vision of happier times.
Reports emerged last week suggesting that the 26-year-old playmaker wanted out of the Bernabeu and Isco fuelled those rumours by staying away from the stadium as the once great Spanish club were dumped out of the Champions League by Ajax.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Latest Videos FromThe Week
Although Isco, who wasn’t included in the matchday squad, has since apologised to his team-mates but it’s reported that he believes the time has come for a clean break from Madrid. That was before news broke on Monday about Zinedine Zidane’s return as coach, but it’s believed that Isco has become persona non grata with the board after his behaviour and they will look to move him on regardless
United and Arsenal “will do battle” for Isco, as might Manchester City, who may be on the brink of losing Ilkay Gundogan.
Gundogan going?
According to Sky Sports the Sky Blues midfielder is still to make a decision about whether he should extend his stay at the Etihad. The 28-year-old is out of contract in 15 months and although City gaffer Pep Guardiola wants him to stay Gundogan is hedging his bets: “There is no decision yet, otherwise I would have signed or I would have rejected a contract,” he said. “I would say we are still in talks but I don’t feel that there is much pressure.”
In time-honoured fashion, the German playmaker insisted he was happy at the club but that nonetheless there were other factors to consider. “I am 28 years old now so obviously my next contract will maybe decide where I am for the rest of my career,” he explained. “I’m always open-minded for challenges but it is a personal situation. Everyone has to make their own decision.
Zidane’s targets
The news that Zidane is back at the helm of Real Madrid ten months after his shock departure could have ramifications for the Premier League’s finest, claims BBC Sport’s European football correspondent Guillem Balague. He told Radio 5 Live that the Frenchman “wants the likes of Eden Hazard and perhaps even Christian Eriksen to add to the side”, as he sets about rebuilding the club’s shattered morale.
The Tottenham playmaker and Chelsea’s Hazard have been linked with Real for a while, and according to the Daily Telegraph, Real have “made a proposal to Chelsea, who value Hazard at £100 million despite the fact he will only have 12 months left on his contract at the end of the season”. The paper goes on to say that Hazard is expected to inform Chelsea that he wants to leave Stamford Bridge in May in a move to Madrid that could net him a weekly wage in excess of £300,000.
Bale for Neymar?
And Gareth Bale could soon find himself surplus to requirements in the Spanish capital, claims the Daily Express, with the paper reporting that the Welshman could be used in “a sensational swoop for Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar”. Bale and Zidane allegedly didn’t see eye to eye and the Frenchman’s return may signal the end of his stay in Spain, particularly with the Real faithful on his back in recent weeks. Neymar is known to be eyeing a escape route from PSG and the Express says that Real will attempt to lure him to the Bernabeu at the end of the season.
