Tottenham transfer news: Spurs drop interest in Isco after hitting Moussa Sissoko stalemate with Newcastle

Spurs are looking to sign a midfielder on deadline day after allowing Nacer Chadli to leave the club

Isco will not join Tottenham this summer after talks over a loan move were halted (Getty)

Tottenham have dropped their interest in Real Madrid midfielder Isco after being linked with a loan move for the out-of-favour Spaniard, although he could still leave the Santiago Bernabeu before the transfer window deadline.

Spurs made contact with Real to enquire about the possibility of signing 24-year-old Isco on loan for the rest of the season, with chairman Daniel Levy handling the club’s deadline day transfer business while manager Mauricio Pochettino enjoys a break in Spain.

Having held talks with Newcastle over a move for Moussa Sissoko, Spurs also contacted Real in order to have a back-up option should negotiations with the Championship side reach a stalemate – as they appear to have done with Newcastle unwilling to budge on their £30m asking price.

That led to a move for Isco, who has fallen down the pecking order under Zinedine Zidane after Marco Asensio returned from a loan spell with Espanyol to take his place in the first team, but Sky Sports claims that Tottenham have ended their interest in Isco and will instead pursue other options.

Both Spurs and Arsenal have been linked with moves for Isco, but neither club is now likely to launch a bid – a loan or a permanent move – before Wednesday night’s 23:00 deadline.

However, he could yet return to former club Malaga after their president hinted that Isco will play for them once again despite leaving them three years ago. Sheikh Abdullah Al Thani posted on Twitter: "My son #Isco_22. Someday you will be in #Malagacf. I'm sure about that."