Pellegrini set for Isco raid
MANCHESTER CITY hope the confirmation of Manuel Pellegrini’s appointment could see Spanish wonderkid Isco follow him from Malaga.
City are still confident they will be able to announce the Chilean’s arrival this week to succeed Roberto Mancini.
His former club in Spain are holding things up — but City are optimistic the deal can be ironed out before the weekend.
And once Pellegrini, 59, is in place they hope it will give them an edge over Real Madrid in the race to sign £17million-rated Isco.
Despite reports last week that City had dropped their interest, they still believe they can land the Spain Under-21 midfielder.
And if they close the deal it would see their summer spending smash the £60m mark with Fernandinho and Jesus Navas already on board.
Their early spending has again sent out a clear message that City will be doing everything possible to win back the Premier League title next term.
The chances of landing Isco, 21, were improved further this week when UEFA upheld Malaga’s ban from European competition next season.
That makes it even more likely that he will push for a move and he was clearly angry about the decision.
He tweeted: “It is embarrassing and shabby. It is completely unfair that they have treated Malaga different than many other teams with many more irregularities and debts.
“They have taken away what we have earned on the field. Neither the players nor fans deserve this. I have no more to say.”
Isco is currently in Israel with his country at the European Under-21 finals, but City are ready to pounce if they get the green light.
He is believed to have a £30m buy-out clause in his contract, but Malaga’s financial problems would force them to accept less.
And they hope the prospect of linking up again with Pellegrini — who he was worked well under for the past couple of years — will tip the balance in their favour.
Isco was asked if he would like to follow his mentor to the Etihad earlier this week and replied: “I wish. It might be possible.”
He went on to call Pellegrini his ‘footballing father’ — but did reveal he wanted to make sure he plays regularly wherever he is next season.
That may be an issue as City have a wealth of midfielders even before the arrival of two more this month for a combined £45m.
They also have the likes of Yaya Toure, Gareth Barry, James Milner, David Silva, Samir Nasri and Javi Garcia on their books, among others.
Yet sources at the Etihad have indicated the deal is not dead.
City’s quick-fire moves in the transfer market are in contrast to last season when they waited until the final few weeks of the transfer window to do their business.
The likes of Jack Rodwell, Garcia, Matija Nastasic and Maicon arrived near the end of August — much to the annoyance of ex-boss Mancini.
Ironically, Isco — who scored in Spain’s 3-0 win over Holland yesterday — was another player scouted by the Italian in August last year.
Meanwhile, City are ready to be patient in their long-running pursuit of Napoli striker Edinson Cavani, who has a £54m release clause.
The Uruguayan is being targeted by a host of top clubs, but City are keen to avoid a bidding war.
