Manchester City close to sealing £30 million Isco summer deal

Manchester City and Isco have been linked for years now, and this summer finally looks like the time for the pair to link up.

Manchester City look set to sign Isco this summer from Real Madrid, according to The Sun. The Spaniard is unsettled at the Bernabeu and looks likely to leave after this season. Chelsea and Juventus are also interested in Isco, who has just one year to run on his contract in Madrid.

But despite the competition from other top European clubs, Pep Guardiola is confident City have their man. At £30 million, the deal wouldn’t be particularly expensive in today’s market either, for a player who is still young in his career.

The 24-year-old almost joined City back in 2013, but now finally looks to be set to make the move to the blue side of Manchester. Any Isco exit will obviously have been driven by a lack of playing time in Madrid. So, then, where would Isco fit into City’s current starting XI?

Guardiola has played a 4-3-3 formation recently, with Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling shining in the wide areas. Whilst David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne have been the creators in front of a deep-lying Yaya Toure.

Gabriel Jesus is injured, so Sergio Aguero has been the striker. So where would Isco fit in to the team? The most obvious position would be Silva’s, with the playmaker now 31 years old. Maybe Isco gives his compatriot a lighter workload next season?

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Perhaps Isco is the long-term replacement? It’s not immediately obvious where Isco would fit in. In the wide areas, Guardiola likes pace, and Isco is not a particularly pacy player. So a central role, of some description would surely beckon.

But will the minutes Isco is looking for be there from next season? From purely a perspective of playing time, a move to Manchester City must remain questionable. For City, it would be perfect. Isco would be a great addition. Guardiola would have another option to use.

Another versatile player that he can move around and play in different positions. But for Isco, is that really what he is looking for? Unless Silva needs to take more of a backseat now than many realize. Although, it doesn’t look like it from many of his performances this season.

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Silva has been a pivotal player in Guardiola’s City and has impressed all year. So unless Guardiola has a formation change in mind, it’s not immediately obvious where Isco could play for City week in, week out.

And if he is to sign on at the Etihad in the summer, that is precisely what he would be joining the club for.

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