Real Madrid: Gauging Isco’s transfer value for the 2020-2021 season

Real Madrid attacking midfielder Isco is an important part of the squad right now, but what if someone comes calling in 2021?

This past transfer window, Real Madrid made a few high-profile moves. They loaned out Takefusa Kubo, Dani Ceballos (again), Brahim Diaz, Reinier Jesus, Jesus Vallejo, Gareth Bale, and Borja Mayoral. They sold Sergio Reguilon with a buy-back option and Achraf Hakimi with a right of first refusal. Real sold most of Oscar Rodriguez’s rights. And they also sold James Rodriguez.

Despite links to Juventus that included speculation around Paulo Dybala heading to Real Madrid, Isco remained with Los Blancos. Isco has been a favorite of Zinedine Zidane’s for quite some time, and he was likely the main reason why Real did not seem to even entertain transfer offers for the Andalusian midfielder. Though it’s not like they received anything compelling.

But teams could come calling in 2021 for Isco, and the right offer could tempt a club looking to get younger. Although Real Madrid already have one of the next generation’s most promising attacking midfielders in Martin Odegaard, MARCA reports the club is monitoring Gio Reyna, who can also play on the wings. And Los Blancos have already been linked to another Bundesliga star, former Barcelona prospect Dani Olmo.

In August, ABC Deportes reported that Real Madrid wanted 40-50 million euros in order to part ways with Isco. Pretty much every Madridista understood he wasn’t going anywhere for two reasons. Firstly, because in this economy, nobody was going to pay that kind of money for a 28-year-old attacking midfielder. And secondly, Isco is more valuable to Zidane and Real Madrid than he is to anyone else right now.

All it takes is one good transfer offer to tempt Real Madrid into selling Isco

Both of those factors could potentially change in 2021, depending on what happens around the club and in the market.

Transfermarkt currently values Isco at 30 million euros, which is a fair valuation for a great attacking midfielder who hasn’t quite reached his world-class potential now in the prime of his career. But the thing is, like James Rodriguez, he could be a good-but-not-great team’s superstar as the focal point of their side. James has led Everton to first in the Premier League thus far with a resurgence under favored manager Carlo Ancelotti, and something similar could easily happen for Isco if he were to get a move.

As the 2020-2021 season progresses, watch Isco’s performances, because even though he probably isn’t going anywhere next summer, teams will be watching the Andalusian closely. They know of his game-breaking ability, as Isco remains one of the biggest names in European football despite not being a regular in arguably the continent’s deepest midfield.

He showed his quality against Real Betis by changing the game as a substitute, and he’s had a few other marquee performances in 2020 against the likes of Osasuna and Barcelona. Isco has admirers around Europe – not just his own manager – so his transfer value change through the year will be worth eyeing. All it takes is one team to submit a 40-50 million euro offer that could tempt Real Madrid into making a move.