Isco: Everton target’s recent statistics

David Lynch

• Updated: 19 May 2021 16:39 BST
• 2 min read

Isco is being tipped to follow in James Rodriguez’s footsteps in January by departing Real Madrid in order to reunite with Carlo Ancelotti at Everton.

The pair first linked up in the summer of 2013 when Ancelotti brought Isco from Malaga to the Santiago Bernabeu, where he has plied his trade ever since.

In two seasons together in the Spanish capital, they won the Champions League, Copa del Rey, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.

And since Ancelotti’s 2015 departure, Isco has added two league titles, a further three European Cups, and a string of other trophies to his personal honours list.

However, his involvement has steadily declined since he made 26 La Liga starts in Ancelotti’s final season in charge of Real.

The 28-year-old was named in Zinedine Zidane’s starting XI on 15 occasions in the league last term, up from just 11 during the 2018-19 campaign.

Isco has also struggled to match the career-best season of 2016-17 that saw him score on 10 occasions and provide nine assists across 30 top-flight outings.

After netting seven times and laying on seven goals in the following campaign, the Spain international scored three and assisted just one in 2018-19.

He then ended last season with a solitary goal and two assists to his name.

Ancelotti perhaps hopes to reinvigorate his former charge’s career in the same way he appears to have done with Rodriguez, who has shone for Everton since his arrival.

For now, though, the Italian is remaining coy on any potential winter move.

Asked about the possibility on Sunday, he said : “Isco is a fantastic player and [I have] a fantastic memory of him but now I am not, honestly, focused there.

“I am focused on an important week we are going to have to recover players and to be well prepared for the game against United.”