Should Isco Be Liverpool’s ‘Big Name’ Signing?

Isco in action for Real last season

Firstly before I get into the crux of the article, I would just like to say thank you to Luis Suarez. I know it has been a while since he left but this is my first article since then. He may not have been the perfect role model, and he may have dragged our name through the mud on a few occasions. But he was one of the most talented and exciting players to have worn the red of Liverpool and I feel very proud to know that he was ours.

However on to the article.

Recently Liverpool have been linked with a marquee signing: Real Madrid’s Isco. These rumours have stemmed from Madrid’s interest and subsequent purchase of James Rodriguez and Liverpool’s desire to sign a big name to please their fans following Suarez’s departure and to play on the pull of Champions League football; the lack of which has been a significant hindrance in negotiations with targets over recent years.

Personally I don’t think we need a big name signing having managed to get to the position we are in today without signing any big names but instead buying wisely and getting the best out of the young players coming through. However that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t want to see such a player joining our ranks. What club’s fans wouldn’t want to see the world stars wearing their team’s kit? I am no different.

Would Isco be a big name signing firstly?

Isco has had a relatively difficult first season at Real Madrid. He was bought along with Carvajal and Illarramendi, all seen as the new crop of Spanish starlets to compliment the galacticos already at the club. It was clear that someone amongst the Real Madrid hierarchy had decided the club needed to add more Spanish players to its ranks, either to meet specific quotas or to give the Madrid set up a more patriotic feel. However they quickly reverted back to their old ways in buying PFA player of the year, Gareth Bale, making him the most expensive player in history (depending on who you believe).

Landing Bale certainly took the gloss off Isco’s purchase, one that at the time was a coup for the club, having fought off competition from the likes of Man City; and it also meant that in terms of pecking order there was now another name ahead of Isco in Madrid’s playmaker role.

Despite this purchase, though many still felt Isco would be almost an indispensable player in the Madrid set up as a result of the Ozil’s exit, leaving a gap in the classic

The 22-year old struggled for starts at Real in his first year

number 10 role. Many expect to see Isco filling the number 10 role in the Spanish national team for years to come, replacing a player who has a very similar playing style in Iniesta. This was the case for the first few months and Isco relished playing at the highest level, putting in some stellar performances both domestically and in Europe. However a slight dip of form, nothing most teams would worry about, and the change of formation from 4-2-3-1 to a rigid 4-3-3 meant Isco’s number 10 role didn’t exist anymore and he was made to play a more central midfield role.

This is where his season plateaued, and he saw himself replaced in the first team by a rejuvenated Di Maria. Now with the arrivals of James and Kroos, he will be seen as even further down the pecking order, and a real prospect that this player, who 12 months ago looked like he was going to be the new Iniesta, will actually be more like the next Callejon; clearly talented, but marginalised as a result of the mega spending by the Madrid outfit.

Does this mean Isco wouldn’t be a big name signing if he came to Liverpool?

Absolutely not in my opinion. Despite being marginalised and moved out of position, he still played at a very high standard when he was given the opportunity. Furthermore there aren’t too many players who have won the ‘Golden Boy’ award since its introduction in 2003 that have gone on to have poor careers, with the only exceptions to the rule being the Brazilian duo Anderson and Pato who won the award in 2008 and 2009 respectively. If you look at earlier winners, you would say they would all be seen as marquee signings by about any team on the planet; Van der Vaart, Rooney, Messi, Fabregas and Aguero…not bad company.

In addition Madrid have earned a reputation for letting quality players go that have gone on to have fantastic careers elsewhere. Sneijder and Robben instantly spring to mind. Both players were sold in 2009 to accommodate signings such as Ronaldo and Benzema, but just one season later, both players were playing in the Champions League final against each other; the star men for their respective teams.

As a result and with Isco being just 22, I think it only right that we should regard Isco as a huge signing if Liverpool can secure his services.

Most importantly, would Isco be a good signing for Liverpool?

This is more difficult to answer. He is a quality player, so obviously he would be a great signing for Liverpool. But then again with the likes of Coutinho, Lallana, Suso, Sterling and maybe even Markovic all being able to play a similar role, why spend big on Isco as well?

Isco will go on to be a star for his country

Personally I am of the opinion, that he is a quality player, thus it would be daft not to pursue him. However I also believe the transfer has to be on our terms. By this I mean we shouldn’t over spend for starters. With Real needing to recoup money to fit in with FFPR and with our strength in depth in this position we are in a good negotiating position. Secondly wages. Seemingly every player at Real is paid an unbelievably huge amount. Somehow a way would need to be found where he fits in with our pay structure; not us adapting to Real’s. And thirdly he needs to fit into and enhance our style of football; really gelling with the likes of Coutinho and Lallana. For me this could all be possible. If he was to come, I believe he should often be deployed on the left. This is actually a position he is very familiar with and may suit him more as he comes to terms with the physical demands of the Premier League.

Is Isco the best target option for us on the left?

If we were to beat off competition from Man City and other top sides, and convinced Isco to join on our terms, I would obviously be very excited and would most certainly view it as a marquee signing. However if we didn’t get him and instead strengthened elsewhere or with a suitable alternative (Griezmann comes to mind) then I wouldn’t be disappointed either.

What are your thoughts? Should we go after Isco and make him a marquee signing?