Chelsea Secure First Option To Sign Highly-Rated Spanish Attacker

With the January transfer window now open for business we’ll be keeping you up-to-date with all the latest transfer gossip. Today, Chelsea are favourites to land Isco.

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Chelsea are now regarded as favourites to sign highly-rated Spanish youngster Isco after securing first option to buy the attacker from Malaga in the summer, according to the Daily Express.

Isco has become one of the most exciting attackers in Spain since joining Malaga from Valencia in 2011 and has scored 11 goals in his 57 games so for the club.

His impressive form seems to have attracted the interest of several top European clubs with the Express claiming Malaga rejected a £13m bid from Real Madrid for the 20-year-old this month.

However, it appears Chelsea are now in the driving seat with the report claiming Malaga agreed to give the Blues first refusal on Isco as part of a deal that saw Lucas Piazon move to the La Liga outfit from the European champions earlier this week.

Malaga have financial troubles and it seems only a matter of time before they’re forced to cash-in on Isco, so a summer move could be on the cards.

The youngster has represented Spain at every youth level but is yet to make his senior debut, having been an unused substitute during friendlies with Serbia and South Korea last May.

The Express believe Chelsea have identified the attacking midfielder as a potential replacement for Frank Lampard – who’s expected to leave Stamford Bridge when his contract expires at the end of the season.