Real Madrid attacking midfielder Isco would rather join Pep Guardiola at Manchester City if he leaves Spain this summer, according to reports in the country.

Don Balon (via Sport Witness) claim Isco won’t consider Juventus, Arsenal or Chelsea because he thinks they’re all ‘a step backwards’.

In contrast, he’s ‘ready to accept’ an offer to join Manchester City, and Guardiola’s side are reportedly considering a €45m deal rising to €60m. Unfortunately that may not be enough, as Real Madrid want €80m.

The media regularly linked Isco to Arsenal last year, as he entered the final year of his Madrid contract. In the end he signed an extension, and is now committed to his current club until 2022.

Still, he can’t quite nail down that starting place in Spain. He’s only on 18 starts for the league season in mid-April, despite an almost completely injury-free season.

Perhaps he’d consider a move to a club willing to give him game time every week, but from the sounds of things that won’t be Arsenal. Not that it matters much anyway, since Wenger’s side have much bigger problems than attacking midfield.

We’ll see how the Isco to City story progresses, if at all, over the coming months.