Chelsea Transfer News: Blues Battle For £17.6m Spaniard

With the January transfer window now open for business we’ll be keeping you up-to-date with all the latest transfer gossip. Today, more on Chelsea’s pursuit of Isco.

Chelsea will have to battle it out with German giants Bayern Munich for the signing of Malaga attacker Isco, according to the Daily Express.

The report claims Chelsea have been monitoring the exciting midfielder for some time now and are weighing up a move, with Isco understood to have a £17.6m buy-out clause in his current contract.

However, it seems the Blues won’t be having a clear run at the 20-year-old with the Express claiming Pep Guardiola – who will take over as coach at the Allianz Arena in the summer – has expressed his interest in signing the player and is keen to lure him to the Bundesliga at the end of the season.

The newspaper also reports that Malaga boss Manuel Pellegrini is desperate to keep hold of the playmaker, but may be forced to sell due to the La Liga outfit’s financial troubles while they will be powerless to stop him leaving should Chelsea or Bayern trigger his release clause.

Isco has represented Spain at every youth level but is yet to make his debut for the senior team after being an unused substitute during friendlies against Serbia and South Korea last May.

Chelsea are well off the pace in the title race after another turbulent year at Stamford Bridge that has seen them change their manager once again. So I wouldn’t be surprised to see owner Roman Abramovich open his wallet and give his new boss, whoever that may be, funds to strengthen his squad with in the summer.

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Isco would be an excellent addition in my opinion but would be a very similar player to the likes of Juan Mata, Eden Hazard, Oscar and Victor Moses, so you’d have to question where he’d fit in if he did make the move to Stamford Bridge.

Would Chelsea fans like to see Isco arrive at the Bridge? Get involved in the comments section below.