Prince Rupert's Tower
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Isco deal looks out of reach for Everton

By Matt Townsend

MADRID, SPAIN - DECEMBER 15: Isco Alarcon of Real Madrid looks on during the La Liga Santander match between Real Madrid and Athletic Club at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano on December 15, 2020 in Madrid, Spain. Sporting stadiums around Spain remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN - DECEMBER 15: Isco Alarcon of Real Madrid looks on during the La Liga Santander match between Real Madrid and Athletic Club at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano on December 15, 2020 in Madrid, Spain. Sporting stadiums around Spain remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images) /
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Media reports today indicate that although Spanish midfielder Isco wants out of Real Madrid the likely terms of a deal makes it doubtful Everton will be signing him in January.

Spanish media claim that a number of clubs from England and Spain are interested in signing him and Everton are also mentioned again as one potential destination.

But the stumbling block is not only the possible competition but also the size of the fee around £30-40 million and his huge wages as well. So would the Toffees be prepared to shell out that sort of money for Isco?

In some ways it’s similar to the James Rodriguez situation. The stories and rumors kept circulating for weeks and months about a deal for the Colombian, but it seemed like getting him was a little far-fetched and probably just paper talk.

There appeared to be a lot of difficulties, not least because the probable asking price and the players wages would be prohibitive, especially in this current financial climate.

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But in the end of course that deal happened and the Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti got his man. So I guess we can’t rule it out in Isco’s case, but it does seem less likely that such a repeat can be managed next month.

January is a difficult time to pull off major deals with time pressures making negotiating complex club fees and player terms much harder.

I think that if Everton do move for anyone in January then it will likely be a player on loan or one who is coming to the end of their contract.

Sami Khedira is just such a player. Recent rumours of conversations between him and Ancelotti have been doing the rounds for a few weeks now.

Obviously we can’t be certain whether that’s indeed true, but I think the manager may be considering bringing him in if he can possibly on a free or for a nominal fee next month to boost his midfield options.

Khedira would add experience and give him another holding midfielder with the ability to effectively support Allan and Abdoulaye Doucoure and supply his forwards with good quality ball.

This could be especially attractive given that there are persistent doubts about the abilities of players like Tom Davies and Andre Gomes to do the job required of them. Although bringing in a 33-year-old who’s never played in the Premier League might not seem a long-term solution.

Again Ancelotti knows his man well and so if he does decide to try and sign him he must think he can still do a job for the Toffees.

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