According to separate reports from Mirror Football, Manchester United are leading the race to sign Barcelona’s Marc Barta; whilst Manchester City are targeting Real Madrid midfielder Isco.
Bartra, aged 24, started for Spain against England earlier this month but couldn’t even find a place on the bench for Barcelona’s 4-0 win over Real Madrid during Saturday’s instalment of the world-renowned ‘El Clasico’.
The 6-foot defender was left distraught and is now considering his future with the club according to Mirror Football, having made just 47 La Liga appearances out of a possible 152 during the four seasons in which he’s been considered a member of Barcelona’s first team squad.
Barta is in the process of switching agents, with his next representative set to be 2010 World Cup winner Carles Puyol. The retired defender made his Barcelona debut under Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal back in 1999 and that relationship could prove vital to bringing Bartra to Old Trafford.
Meanwhile, Manchester City are targeting Real Madrid’s disillusioned playmaker Isco. He at least made it onto the pitch for Saturday’s El Clasico but had to settle for a berth from the bench, in order to make room for an unfit James Rodriguez, despite starting in Los Blancos’ three previous fixtures.
It highlighted how the Spain international’s place in the starting Xi is dependent on the fitness of Real Madrid’s more coveted names and has inevitably lead to rumours that he won’t extend his current contract past the end of 2018.
Mirror Football allege the Citizens will look to capitalise on the situation – in no small part due to the fact Isco claimed Europe’s prestigious Golden Boy award in 2012 whilst playing under Manuel Pellegrini at Malaga.