Why This £35 million Move Will Help Arsenal Challenge For The Title Next Season

This summer, it seems Arsenal will find themselves yet again, knocking on the doors of Real Madrid for a midfielder. The previous purchase was Mesut Ozil. This time around the player up for grabs will be Isco. Arsene Wenger is expected to cough up £35 million for the Spaniard with Real Madrid now ready to entertain suitors. Arsenal have gone for a big midfield signing in each of their last two seasons, Mesut Ozil was followed by Alexis Sanchez last summer.

Isco’s diminishing role at the Bernabeu

Isco looked the best player in the Real Madrid squad towards the end of last year when the team was going through a slump in form following their Club World Cup triumph. Isco came into prominence after injuries to Luka Modric and James Rodriguez. But the past few weeks have seen him drop to the bench while Ancelotti has reaffirmed his faith in Rodriguez and Modric. Isco has scored 3 and assisted 8 goals this season for Madrid. His biggest contribution to the Los Blancos does not often reflect on the scoreboard -his speed and penetration into the box – which cause problems for the most experienced of defences.

There has also been talk of a spat between Isco and Carlo Ancelotti, the manager, this season. Some speculate this could the reason behind possible discontent for Isco at the Bernabeu.

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How Arsenal will benefit from his services

As far as Premier League midfields go, Arsenal can field the strongest bunch. The likes of Mesut Ozil, Santi Cazorla, Alexis Sanchez, Theo Walcott, and Aaron Ramsey are formidable against any team. In the coming future, though, Arsene Wenger will have to deal with some of his players ageing beyond their prime. Cazorla is at his peak and in the next couple of seasons will not be able to handle the pace of the Arsenal game. Isco has all the right characteristics to eventually succeed his compatriot in that crucial No.10 role.

Isco brings with him precision passing, incredible speed and dribbling. He will fit right into Arsenal’s one touch style of play. He will supplement the speed of Alexis Sanchez and Theo Walcott on the flanks very well. Throw in Mesut Ozil’s genius into the mix and you got yourself a midfield even Bayern Munich will envy. Chelsea and the two Manchester clubs do not possess the pace to match up let alone slow them down.

Why Real Madrid will sell

At 23 years of age, Isco has a lot of football ahead of him. But Real Madrid are bound by ambition. The Galacticos are vying for PSG’s Marco Veratti and Juventus’ Paul Pogba. Financial fair play rules will force them to sell in order to acquire their targets. The current asking price for Paul Pogba is rising by the day. Isco’s departure will free a slot in the midfield for the Frenchman.

Isco has not openly expressed his desire to leave Real Madrid but he might grow wary of sitting on the bench during what are surely the best years of his footballing life. Arsenal are slowly shedding the perennial chokers tag with possible back to back FA cup title wins and a second place finish in the league. Emirates might be the best breeding ground for this talented Spaniard.