Liverpool’s chances of landing Real Madrid midfield starlet Isco look to be dead in the water, with reports claiming the Spanish international is set to sign a new deal with the European champions.
As noted by Jonathan Green of the Daily Star, the Reds, Manchester United and Arsenal have all been linked with the 22-year-old, who was struggling for game time with Los Blancos at the start of the campaign. But the same piece cites reports in Spain which claim Isco is on the brink of a new deal with the club.
Here’s a look at some of his best moments from this season:
While Isco still arguably doesn’t get into Real’s best XI, injuries to Gareth Bale, Luka Modric and James Rodriguez have given the former Malaga man a chance to establish himself this season. In the vast majority of the appearances he has made so far, he’s been one of Madrid’s most consistent and aesthetic performers.
As noted by Squawka Football, the young midfielder has made some big improvements to his game this year:
If Liverpool or any of the aforementioned teams had landed this prodigious young talent, then it would have been a major coup. But at this juncture, he’s a player who’s in the elite bracket and simply out of the league of these Premier League sides.
Carlo Ancelotti was very complimentary about Isco following another exemplary display recently, hinting that he may have done enough to be considered a guaranteed starter, per Dermot Corrigan of ESPN:
The Reds would have done remarkably well to sign Isco even if he didn’t sign a new deal, but the Anfield faithful can console themselves in the knowledge that in Philippe Coutinho, Adam Lallana and Lazar Markovic, they have a host of stylistically comparable players in this squad. What the Reds could do with is a player to bolster the base of the midfield.
According to reports, that could lead them to another Real Madrid midfielder in the form of Asier Illarramendi, per talkSPORT (h/t Aaron Flanagan of the Mirror). The piece claims the young playmaker has been recommended by former Reds star Xabi Alonso, too.
Here’s a look at what he could potentially offer Brendan Rodgers’ team:
Stylistically, Illarramendi is very similar to Alonso. Indeed, when Los Blancos signed him from Real Sociedad in the summer of 2013, he was tipped by many to be the natural heir to Spanish World Cup-winner, but since making that move, things haven’t really worked out.
As noted by Spanish football expert Lee Roden, so far this season, the midfielder has been limited to a scattering of late substitute appearances and starts in less meaningful games:
It’s a shame for the player, as he is immensely talent. During the 2012/13 season with Sociedad, Illarramendi lit up La Liga with some tremendous playmaking from deep, and such was his class, the sizeable sum spent by Real Madrid to land him seemed to be money well spent at the time. But he’s now well down the pecking order at the Santiago Bernabeu.
It’s peculiar given that he’s done pretty well whenever he’s been given a chance in the team, too, per M.A.J:
Sadly, his time seems to be up at Real, and for Liverpool, Illarramendi would be a superb acquisition. By no means is he a direct replacement for the rumbustious, dynamic Gerrard that inspired Liverpool to glory on myriad occasions, but if Rodgers wants someone to sit at the base of the midfield and dictate possession, the Spaniard is perfect.
The only possible obstacle for the Reds would be competition. According to the aforementioned piece, Arsenal are also interested in signing Illarramendi, and as revealed earlier in the season, current Sociedad manager David Moyes admitted he’d love to bring him back to the Basque outfit, per Rupert Fryer of Goal.
from Bleacher Report http://ift.tt/1AFcmkp
via IFTTT February 28, 2015 at 06:16AM
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