There’s not a very big chance Malaga manage to hang on to Isco, and as time passes by and Manchester City don’t make a move, it’s more and more likely that Real Madrid will be the team that sign the young Spanish star.

According to AS, after already losing in the bidding war for Neymar and being turned down by Robert Lewandowski (who says he only wants to play for Bayern Munich), Real Madrid are desperate to start bringing the big names we’re used to seeing from then during the transfer period. They still don’t have a new manager (officially), but Zinedine Zidane, in charge of all sporting matters including new players, is convinced Isco is the one Real Madrid should bring over.

Manchester City are also in the picture, with Manuel Pellegrini, who has coached Isco over the last couple of seasons, promising the 21 year old a place in the starting lineup if he joins Manchester City this summer. However, with Isco refusing to discuss his future until the end of the U-21 European championship in Israel, there really isn’t anything to go by as to his own preferences.

The cost? Isco, who is signed until 2016, has a release clause worth €35 million in his contract, which seems like a reasonable fee to pay for the best U-21 player in Spain, and possibly in the whole of Europe, scoring 12 goals in all competitions for Malaga last season, including leading them to the Champions League quarterfinals.

Why Real Madrid and not Manchester City? There seems to be some hesitance at City regarding new signings and spending over the last couple of seasons. Maybe the financial fair play rules are driving more fear into British clubs than elsewhere around Europe. Real Madrid operate under the same regulations, but in order to get the votes coming in, Florentino Perez is desperate to sign a big name, and a young Spanish star like Isco will surely be a very impressive way to start the summer.