It has been a year to forget for Chelsea supporters but fans are already looking ahead to the prospect of regaining the Premier League title next season. Guus Hiddink steadied the ship after Jose Mourinho’s departure earlier in the campaign but Italy boss Antonio Conte will get the best out of Chelsea’s flair players.
However, the Italian is also going to want to bring in a few of his own transfer targets as the Blues seek to return to the top of the table. Chelsea were linked with a move for Real Madrid midfielder Isco earlier this season and Conte may try to lure the Spaniard to Stamford Bridge ahead of the new campaign.
Game time
Isco has failed to hold down a regular spot at Real Madrid this season and Zinedine Zidane might consider allowing him to leave the Santiago Bernabeu for the right price. Chelsea could certainly do with somebody like Isco to offer a creative presence in attacking midfield – especially if Eden Hazard leaves the club this summer.
If nothing else, Isco would give Chelsea an added dimension in attack and that cannot be viewed as a negative. He provided one of the best strikes in Euro 2016 qualifying and can score crucial goals for Spain moving forward.
and Conte is going to need at least one marquee signing to give fans a boost ahead of what could be a defining season for the club. Chelsea simply cannot afford to finish outside of the Champions League places again.
Competition for places in Chelsea’s starting line-up is fierce and Isco’s arrival would certainly help to keep the likes of Oscar, Willian and Cesc Fabregas on their toes. Right now, it’s tricky to predict which players will leave Stamford Bridge this summer but you’d have to imagine that at least two or three ‘big names’ will move on after mediocre campaigns.
Qualities
On his day, Isco is arguably one of the best creative midfielders on the planet. If truth be told, he struggles to consistently impress but a move to the Premier League and a fresh start at Chelsea might be exactly what he needs. After all, it’s definitely not a question of talent – he is an incredibly gifted footballer and a fine asset to any of Europe’s elite sides.
In a way, he doesn’t really fit the mould of a Real Madrid player and Isco will find it hard to convince Zidane that he deserves a spot in the starting line-up – even James Rodriguez cannot force his way into the team. Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Casemiro are simply a class above both Isco and the Colombian on current form.
According to reports, Isco is happy at Real Madrid and intends to see out his contract but it’s hard to imagine he would turn down the opportunity to move to Stamford Bridge and work with a manager of Conte’s calibre. It certainly looks like Zidane has his favourites at Madrid and a long-term career at the Bernabeu looks untenable.
He won’t solve all of Chelsea’s issues but Isco’s arrival will give the Blues a different dimension in attacking areas. Conte may opt to play either a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 formation and Isco can slot comfortably into either of those systems. The Spaniard’s versatility is one of his best traits and he has the skillset to mature into a real fan favourite at Stamford Bridge.
Isco is a fantastic footballer and most Chelsea fans would be happy to see the Spain international join the club this summer. If nothing else, Isco is gettable and Conte could do much worse than to look towards the Real Madrid star. Just imagine Isco playing off somebody like Gonzalo Higuain – it could be magical at Chelsea next season…
