Why Isco Would Be a Dream Summer Transfer for Barcelona

Barcelona could do worse than signing Isco over the summer if politics would allow it.

Real Madrid, particularly Florentino Perez, are hardly likely to let the player leave without a fight in any event. Certainly, a transfer to his club's fiercest rivals would be at the very bottom of his list.

However, transfers between the clubs has happened before and this is football after all; the one line of work where practically anything can and does happen.

Isco is known to be unhappy at the club too. Firstly being dropped for Luka Modric and then latterly for James Rodriguez, hasn't gone down well with this former Golden Boy.

Per an interview with Canal+, via Jonny Singer of the Daily Mail, Isco noted:

"I am more than hurt, so I'm not very happy."

Much has been made of Isco's allegiance to the Blaugrana and while that is advantageous in the sense that he might put a little extra sweat on the shirt, in reality there's no point in reading too much into it.

Paul Pogba would appear to be flavour of the month for the Catalans at present. Sporting Director Ariedo Braida recently told Tuttosport (via Matt Maltby of the Daily Mail):

We like Pogba, we like him a lot. But that's needless to say. All the big clubs like a champion such as Pogba.

Marotta (Giuseppe Marotta, Juventus' General Director) is a friend of mine and we talk about a lot of things. We have also discussed Pogba.

He is still young, but already shows things of the highest level. It would be a hugely important operation for Barcelona, a very interesting one.

However, while there is absolutely no questioning the young Frenchman's talent, his skill set isn't generally what players of Barcelona are expected to provide.

There are reasonable comparisons to be made with Yaya Toure, but Barcelona decided that his particular way of playing wasn't something that had any longevity in the evolution of the side.

So why would the Catalans now revert back to the same, with respect?

It smacks of a "Galactico" buying policy from the club. Hoovering up the world's best talent because they can. Neymar and Luis Suarez are two who have done remarkably well but neither purchase initially sat well with the club members.

Do they really want to see another €100 million spent on a player that will certainly take a while to become accustomed to Barca's way of playing?

Isco, on the other hand, can slot straight into the Blaugrana midfield, playing alongside exponents that he knows well.

At international level it has long been contended that he is the natural heir to Xavi Hernandez. With the latter about to depart for a new adventure in Qatar, there is a vacancy for someone with precisely the skill set that Isco possesses at the Camp Nou.

Could Pogba's potential purchase be considered a gamble? You would have to say yes. He fits perfectly well into the system that Juventus play, but it is wholly different to Barca's natural game of ball retention.

Standing ovations have been commonplace for Isco both at Real, and for Spain. It tells us much about how highly he is regarded by football fans.

Madrid are therefore playing a dangerous game by keeping him as a "bit-part" player. A situation that is unlikely to change unless Modric or Rodriguez are sold, neither of which is likely to happen.

Isco is mobile, inventive and a workaholic who scores goals. Per WhoScored.com, his numbers could do with improvement, but they are still almost as good as both Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez combined this season, per WhoScored.

Make a direct comparison with Ivan Rakitic and he has just one goal less but one more assist per WhoScored, and the Croatian has been rightly lauded for his contribution this season.

Barca should be asking themselves whether they are willing to change a winning formula and style to accommodate a player like Pogba, but maybe they don't want to listen to the obvious answer.

Isco will be available at the right price and Barca would be foolish to pass up such an opportunity.