REAL MADRID are reportedly keen for Arsenal to reignite their interest in out of favour midfielder Isco.
Spanish outlet El Confidencial claim that Los Blancos are aware that Carlo Ancelotti is hopeful of reuniting with the Spaniard at Everton.
And the report adds that Madrid would welcome a bidding war between their former manager and Mikel Arteta for £20million-rated Isco.
Yet it remains to be seen whether Arsenal would consider a move for the 28-year-old despite their open attempts to sign a new creative midfielder.
The Gunners failed in a bid to land Lyon playmaker Houssem Aouar over the summer but are said to be interested in reviving a deal in January.
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And the north Londoners already have Dani Ceballos on loan for a second successive season from Madrid.
Arsenal had made Isco a top target under former boss Unai Emery back in 2019 and faced competition from Manchester City – where Arteta was assistant manager at the time.
The former Malaga star ultimately decided to stay at Madrid but has once again been linked with the exit door after a lack of game time this season.
Everton are still thought to be leading the race, with Ancelotti keen to reunite him with James Rodriguez.
Isco has made just three starts this term under Zinedine Zidane – his most recent being the 4-1 humbling to Valencia.
Named on the bench for last month’s Clasico, the playmaker was heard joking about his boss in the stands before the game.
Movistar TV cameras picked up Isco seemingly telling team-mates: “If [Zidane] has to take me off, he takes me off in the 50th or 60th minute, sometimes at half-time.
“If he has to bring me on, he brings me on in the 80th minute.”
