Arsenal Move for Isco Just Plain Wrong

Arsenal are interested in a move for Isco in the January transfer window.

With the Christian Eriksen speculation dying down, for now, next up on the conveyor belt of unsatisfied creative midfielders is Isco, a player Mikel Arteta has supposedly asked the Arsenal hierarchy to go out and secure.

The latest ‘extra, extra read all about it’ comes courtesy of Spanish outlet DefensaCentral, who state quite steadfastly that Arteta has instructed the board to secure the Real Madrid man on loan in January, with a purchase option, ahead of other European sides.

Isco is cutting a desperate figure over at the Santiago Bernabeu. Starting just three matches in all competitions this season, he has yet to complete a full 90 minutes. Videos have even surfaced of him venting his displeasure with Zinedine Zidane while sat brooding on the bench.

This comes after a few seasons of gradual drifting, to the point of being but a mere squad player in the Spanish capital. Talk of him wanting to leave for regular minutes has understandably emerged, and there is strong reason to believe the rumours.

He is not, however, someone Arsenal should pursue.

Eriksen and Isco are players who would be titillating options for any club. If we were playing FIFA and the version was five years old.

The 28-year-old is not the age profile that Arsenal should be going for. It’s exactly the same with Eriksen. Dishing out long-term contracts for players who may produce something now – the jury is out on that with Isco as he hasn’t been anywhere near productive enough over the past year or two – is the mesmeric ‘quick fix’ this club should be resisting.

With a host of ageing stars due for departure in the summer to both ease the wage bill and lower the squad’s average age, seeking out others who will hamstring the club further down the line in the same manner stinks of poor judgement. Just look at Willian, although, at least he didn’t cost a transfer fee. Something positive at least.

All of which is why Arsenal won’t pursue them. That’s my belief, anyway.

Houssem Aouar will remain the top priority, with Dominik Szoboszlai either level pegging or not far behind. Having contingency plans is essential, but straying too far from the intended targets for temporary gain is precisely what the club should be avoiding.