Wolves are being linked with yet another Sevilla star ahead of the January transfer window, as reports suggest that Julen Lopetegui is keen to reunite with Isco at Molineux.
What’s the word?
According to Spanish news outlet Marca, the midfielder is likely to depart the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium in January after a fallout with the club’s sporting director Monchi.
Lopetegui only brought in the 30-year-old from Real Madrid during the summer and, if anything, the player’s form has dramatically improved since the coach’s sacking, providing a goal and an assist in respective Champions League games against FC Copenhagen and Manchester City.
However, the club are still willing to let him go after just a few months in Seville, and Wolves could be the beneficiaries in January as they look to add the necessary players to get them out of a Premier League relegation battle.
The missing piece of the puzzle?
Wolves currently lack an attacking midfielder who is capable of unlocking an opposition defence. In Matheus Nunes, Ruben Neves and Boubacar Traore, who seem likely to be the starting three in midfield when the season restarts later this month, they have three box-to-box players who don’t have a history of offering a big threat in the final third.
Even Neves, who is enjoying one of the best goalscoring seasons of his career, boasts just 12 assists in 228 appearances for the Old Gold, which suggests that he is rarely playing the final pass in the attack.
Meanwhile, Isco was recognised as one of the world’s best attacking midfielders during his time with Real Madrid, contributing 53 goals and 56 assists in 353 appearances for Los Blancos.
During that spell, he earned the praise of Spanish great Andres Iniesta, who has been regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of the modern era. He said: “Isco is an incredible footballer and plays for one of the best teams in the world.”
While Isco’s impact has perhaps dwindled in recent years, judging by his diminishing game-time and WhoScored ratings, he could well still possess that magic ability on the ball, which could prove to be crucial in unlocking Wolves’ attacking potential.
The likes of Goncalo Guedes, Pedro Neto, Raul Jimenez and Diego Costa have all struggled for goals and assists this season, with only one goal contribution between them in the Premier League, but their qualities could be unleashed with a reliable provider behind them.
With a player such as Isco – who according to WhoScored excels at dribbling, long shots and playing key passes – lining up behind them, Lopetegui might just be able to fix Wolves’ goalscoring woes by reuniting with a player he has managed at both Sevilla and Real Madrid.