According to Eldesmarque, as cited by the London Economic, Tottenham Hotspur are interested in Real Madrid playmaker Isco. The Spanish publication believes that both the sides could make a deal involving Isco and Christian Eriksen, who has been linked with a move to Santiago Bernabeu. But, is the Spaniard a viable target for Spurs?
Isco’s recent struggles at Madrid
Isco was one of the best performing players at Madrid since joining the club in a €30 million move from Malaga, back in 2013. However, that was until last summer, when Zinedine Zidane departed.
And while the arrival of Julen Lopetegui was not necessarily a problem, the playmaker’s overall gametime took a considerable hit, following the emergence of Marco Asensio and later, Vinicius Junior. Besides, Isco’s fallout with Santiago Solari earlier this year has also been well documented. In fact, the Spanish international featured in just over 1,100 minutes of league football last season, only 202 of which came under Solari.
Although Zidane returned to the helm during the backend of last season, it seems Isco has lost his importance at Madrid. Especially following the arrival of Eden Hazard coupled with the speculations linking Eriksen to Madrid, it’s unlikely the ex-Malaga star has any future at his current club.
Is Isco a viable replacement for Eriksen?
Isco could be an appealing replacement for Eriksen for Spurs given his extensive experience in La Liga and the Champions League. The 27-year-old has made almost 300 competitive appearances for Real Madrid in all competitions, during which he has been involved in exactly 100 goals. He has also won 38 caps for Spain.
This rich experience of playing at the highest level of football would make it easier for the player to integrate to the fast-paced nature of the Premier League – making him a considerably less risky option when compared to someone like Bruno Fernandes or Donny van de Beek.
One might argue that Isco’s recent struggles put question marks over his potential to impress at Tottenham. But, it is fair to point out that he has struggled mostly due to lack of game-time. The playmaker notably made only one start in the La Liga this season.
From a tactical perspective, Isco’s technical prowess means he can combine well the likes of Son Heung-Min and Harry Kane in the final third. Mauricio Pochettino can even potentially use him in a free-flowing attacking setup, though that may be harder to implement with someone like Kane leading the line.
But most importantly, Isco can inject the much-needed winning mentality to the Spurs team, having won almost everything at Real Madrid. Therefore, he is a viable target for the Lilywhites.
