Real Madrid star Isco dashes Tottenham transfer hopes as he reveals new contract plans

Real Madrid midfielder Isco says he is now confident of signing a new deal with at the Santiago Bernabau stadium following summer interest from Tottenham Hotspur.

Isco, 24, found himself linked with the Premier League club in the final days of the summer transfer window. Having struggled for a first-team role under Zinedine Zidane, AS claimed Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino had made a personal approach to try and lure the Spainish international to White Hart Lane.

The former Malaga starlet later however claimed he never considered leaving Real Madrid during that transfer window, insisting he had accepted Zidane's challenge to try and force his way into the Frenchman's first-team plans.

While he did offer Tottenham fans hope – admitting the Premier League was an attractive option, in an interview with Cadena Cope in October – reports in Spain have since suggested Real have reached a pre-contract agreement with the midfielder, to extend his current deal at the club until 2022.

After rescuing Spain with a late equaliser against England on Tuesday, Isco appeared to confirm talks over a new deal were ongoing, with comments that will be damaging to Tottenham's hopes of luring him away from the Spanish capital.

"I am confident of closing out a deal soon," Isco told Marca after the draw at Wembley. "It does not take away much time for me and I hope I can continue many years in Real Madrid and, of course, in the national team."

While a new deal looks imminent, Cadena Ser have suggested the new contract is merely a means for Real to avoid losing the Spain international for a cut-price fee next summer. Isco's current deal expires in 2018, meaning the club would be faced with the possibility of accepting low offers next summer, rather than risk losing the player on a free. Even if Real do decide to let the player go, a new contract means they will find themselves in a much stronger position when negotiating a fee with clubs.