365 days until Isco's contract expires

July 1st is here and as with every other year it means that there is now a raft of players without a contract who are free to discuss a deal with the club of their choosing.

That is also what will happen to Isco this time next year if he doesn't sign a new deal with Real Madrid in the meantime. Not that Real fans should panic, there is a good chance that an announcement will be made when the player returns from holiday.

As the old adage goes, Isco "would be like a new signing", the former Malaga man underwent something of a transformation last season, going from an unimportant squad player at the start of the season to one of the first names on the team sheet by the end of it.

The delay in announcing the player's extension is likely down to some creative accounting from Real, who will be looking for the costs to be included in next season's financial report, rather than this season's.

However, there is always the worry that the longer the situation drags out, the more chance there is of another big club turning the player's head and convincing him not to sign an extension. There are plenty of teams in the world that could do with a player of Isco's quality.