Arsenal had €45 million bid for Isco refused by Real Madrid

Isco was reportedly close to a move to Arsenal in the January transfer window but at Zinedine Zidane’s insistence the Premier League club were rebuffed in their attempt as the Real coach did not believe there was enough time to find a suitable replacement for the midfielder.

Hot on the heels of reporting a 75-million-euro bid from Jiangsu Suning for Chelsea’s Oscar, British tabloid The Sun on Friday reported that Arsenal had lodged a bid of 45 million euros for the Spain international and that Real had agreed to the deal in principle. Furthermore, it was reported that Arsenal will try again to lure Isco to the Emirates Stadium in the summer and Real have offered the Gunners a right of first refusal if another club comes in with an offer in excess of the 45 million the Premier League are willing to pay.

However, Isco is unlikely to be keen on a move now that Zinedine Zidane is in charge at the Bernabéu. Under his predecessor Rafa Benítez, the midfielder saw his first team opportunities decrease to the extent that he only played a few minutes of the Spaniard’s final matches in charge. Under Zidane, Isco has been a fixture in the starting 11.

Arsenal are thought to have 260 million euros to spend in the summer as Arséne Wenger plans a huge overhaul of his playing staff. The television rights deal signed by Premier League clubs will also see Arsenal’s coffers boosted by over 100 million euros in the 2016-17 season.