Arsenal have been linked with a move for Real Madrid’s Isco for some time now, but it seems like Bayern Munich are the only club to have actually made a move.

Real Madrid's Spanish midfielder Isco controls the ball during the Spanish league football match between Real Madrid CF and RCD Espanyol at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on September 22, 2018. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP)
Real Madrid’s Spanish midfielder Isco controls the ball during the Spanish league football match between Real Madrid CF and RCD Espanyol at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on September 22, 2018. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP)

Arsenal are reportedly ‘watching the situation’ as the player is linked with an exit due to reduced playing time.

Still only 26, Isco is under contract with the Spanish giants until 2022 but with a current market value of £81m, he is unlikely to come cheap and that’s the price Arsenal are most interested in.

A host of others have also been linked, as you’d expect. Until recently, Juventus were said to have the strongest interest in the player, but a report in Sport Bild claims than Bayern Munich ‘have even made first contacts for next summer’.

BARCELONA, SPAIN - OCTOBER 28:  Isco Alarcon of Real Madrid CF looks on  during the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF at Camp Nou on October 28, 2018 in Barcelona, Spain.  (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
BARCELONA, SPAIN – OCTOBER 28: Isco Alarcon of Real Madrid CF looks on during the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF at Camp Nou on October 28, 2018 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Isco has played just 849 minutes this season, fewer than Mesut Ozil (884).

As a result of broken playing time, he’s only managed four goals and two assists in 16 games. That’s still not a bad return when you consider he’s only played the full 90 twice this season. He played just 95 minutes in Real Madrid’s last five league games.

Are Arsenal interested? Probably.

Can they afford him? Probably not.