Last Updated: Fri, 18 Jan 2013 02:06
Chelsea are reported to have lined up a deal with Malaga that will see highly-rated midfielder Isco arrive in the summer.
Europe's top clubs are all keeping tabs on the 20-year-old but despite having well-documented financial problems, the La Liga side have ruled out the player leaving in January.
Isco will be sold in the summer though and reports claim that Chelsea are favourites to land him after they agreed to loan youngster Lucas Piazon to Malaga for the rest of the season.
The deal was done on the proviso that Chelsea will have the first option on Isco, who could link up with fellow Spaniards Juan Mata, Oriol Romeu, Cesar Azilpecueta and Fernando Torres at Stamford Bridge.
Malaga have been banned from next season's Champions League and are in no position to keep hold of the midfielder.
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