Juventus will reportedly attempt to pry Isco away from Real Madrid following the imminent arrival of Mateo Kovacic, the talented 21-year-old midfielder from Inter Milan who is on the verge of completing a shock move to the Spanish capital.  

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t AS‘ David F. Sanchidrian), it’s unlikely Isco will actually join Juventus, but that won’t stop the Bianconeri from trying [sic]:

Mateo Kovacic’s imminent arrival at Real Madrid could have a secondary effect on Rafa Benitez’s squad – the departure of Isco. Or at least that is what Juventus are hoping will happen in such a scenario.

Kovacic is expected to sign to bolster a midfield which comprises Modric, Kroos and James – that would increase competition for a starting place for Isco, an idol with the fans but who has yet to lock down a regular place in the team.

That’s why Massimiliano Allegri is on full alert. Arturo Vidal’s exit to Bayern Munich is the perfect excuse for Juve to enter the transfer markets but no necessarily for an attacking midfielder. … This is the plot Juventus have hatched but to make things easier, they would also need affirmation from the player which seems highly improbable at this point.

Options include a normal deal that would likely cost the Italian champions up to €50 million, a one-year loan move or a deal involving Alvaro Morata, the former Real striker who moved to Turin last summer in a deal that involves a buyback clause, which can be activated in the summer of 2016, per the Independent‘s Adam Digby.

Isco enjoyed a strong campaign in 2014-15, aided by Luka Modric’s injury that saw the Spain international take over his spot in midfield. He made a total of 26 starts in La Liga, scoring four goals and adding nine assists, per WhoScored.com.

The 23-year-old is expected to battle James Rodriguez for a spot in the starting XI in 2015-16, and manager Rafa Benitez could choose to rotate the two. The addition of Kovacic complicates matters, although the Croatia international is a raw prospect unlikely to overtake Isco or Rodriguez in the pecking order anytime soon.

Kovacic is insanely talented, but his proposed transfer to Los Blancos is based around his potential, not his current performances. As explained by David Amoyal , a translator for Gianluca Di Marzio, the youngster was benched by two different managers last season, as he failed to impress for Inter:

To me prospects like Mateo Kovacic are like the briefcase from “Pulp Fiction”- he’s a blank canvas that allows us to project what we want on him, the uncertainty makes him more exciting. Now that Kovacic is on his way to Real Madrid for a reported €35 million plus bonuses you can look at it in two ways- he could either be the new Coutinho or Inter got a great return (more than double what they paid for him) for a player who never became a full time starter under two different coaches on a team that wasn’t very good.

Meanwhile, Isco has proven time after time that he’s one of the world’s most exciting young midfielders, a versatile player who can act as both a main creative outlet and a scoring winger. He has given no indication he wants to leave Los Blancos, and likewise, the club has done nothing to suggest he may be available.

Fans and pundits may be salivating at the idea he’s suddenly available following the imminent arrival of Kovacic, but Bleacher Report’s Sam Tighe thinks it’s more likely the likes of Asier Illarramendi and Lucas Silva will move:

Isco’s agent Rafael Comino told TuttoJuve.com (h/t Amoyal) Juventus have yet to make contact with him or his client, and while the situation with Kovacic may change their approach, it’s hard to imagine any scenario in which Isco would decide to abandon Real for a foreign adventure.

Things could change should his playing time take a drastic turn for the worse in 2015-16, but as of right now, the Spaniard is unlikely to leave the Bernabeu.

 

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