London - Manchester City's pursuit of Manuel Pellegrini is expected to help the club's move to sign his 21-year-old Malaga playmaker, Isco, with whom the Chilean also shares an agent.
Reports in Spain on Monday suggested that Isco, who is valued at £27m, has been offered a four-year deal by City, but the player and his father, Paco Alarcon, are considering if a further year in Spain would be better.
City sporting director Txiki Begiristain's talks with Pellegrini's agent, Jesus Martinez, have allowed him to discuss bringing Isco, a Spain international, to the Etihad.
Meanwhile Fernandinho, the Brazil international, has publicly called on Shakhtar Donetsk to lower his £40.5m release clause so that City can meet it.
The 28-year-old, who turned down a new contract at Shakhtar last week, said: “The day I signed, the club's director guaranteed me that was normal with his players, and that in a transfer, we could negotiate and reach an agreement on the price. I trusted them, and I didn't think about the consequences it would bring me in the future. My dream is being threatened because of the high valuation.”
The Independent