Ivan Perisic will reportedly turn down an offer for increased pay by Inter Milan as Manchester United inch closer to signing the Croatian winger
According to a report by The Mirror, Ivan Perisic is set to reject Inter Milan’s offer of a pay rise in order to land a move to Manchester United. Jose Mourinho has been targeting Perisic on priority for a while now, and the winger is keen to join him at Old Trafford.
In fact, Perisic is even ready to reject Inter’s offer of a new contract. The Italian club are understood to have brought an improved offer of £85,000-a-week until 2021 to replace his current £68,000-a-week contract, even though it still has three years left to run.
The 28-year-old could be reluctant to commit to a future at San Siro since he can challenge for both the Champions League and Premier League with United. However, Inter will still be looking to retain one of their most prized assets but at this point, Mourinho looks like he has the upper hand.
Perisic has managed to progress over the years and refine his performances which have earned him several admirers. After his performances in 2016/17, he has become an in-demand player since even Paris Saint-Germain were keen on signing him, but now the odds seem to be in Manchester United’s favour.
It might seem unusual for the Red Devils to pursue Perisic when Mourinho already has the likes of Anthony Martial, Wayne Rooney, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard to choose from to occupy positions behind the central striker.
Be that as it may, Wayne Rooney is likely to exit Old Trafford this summer or risk being pushed further below the pecking order while Lingard is always seen as more of a squad player. That leaves only three key first-team regular players for Mourinho and with Champions League football coming up next season, United need reinforcements.
Considering the role and Perisic’s age, the Croatia international will be a solid fit especially after enjoying a stunning campaign for Inter Milan last season. He will also be able to play his best years at Manchester United and will also be the perfect option for the club in terms of longevity.
