Manchester United are reportedly set to pip Chelsea in the race to sign Ivan Perisic from Inter Milan in the summer
According to a report in The Sun, Manchester United are set to sign Inter Milan attacker Ivan Perisic in a £40 million deal. Chelsea were also interested in signing the Croatia international in the summer transfer window.
Perisic has been a journeyman of sorts in his 10-year senior career, spending two seasons at a club before moving on to pastures anew. The player blossomed into an exciting forward during his time in Germany with Borussia Dortmund and Wolfsburg, and he has only improved further since making the move to Inter Milan two years ago.
At San Siro, Perisic has been one of the most integral components for his side. And although Inter has endured a frustrating campaign in the Serie A, the Croat has been one of the few shining lights, bagging 11 goals and 10 assists in 42 appearances across all competitions.
The Sun: Jose #Mourinho set to land #Inter Milan forward Ivan #Perisic in £40m deal. #FCIM pic.twitter.com/RgCo5NN50B
— Enjoy Inter News (@EnjoyInterNews) May 29, 2017
As Perisic continues to go from strength to strength for the Nerazzurri, there are several clubs that are starting to show an interest in signing him. And as per the latest reports, Manchester United and Chelsea seem to be the two front-runners in the race to land him in the summer.
At Manchester United, Jose Mourinho has an abundance of attacking options at his disposal, with the likes of Anthony Martial, Wayne Rooney, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Juan Mata, Jesse Lingard and Wayne Rooney to choose from.
But while Mkhitaryan and Mata were consistent this season, Martial often frustrated as he blew hot and cold and Lingard is seen as more of a squad player. Rooney is likely to leave Manchester United in the summer and, hence, there seems to be an urgent need for Mourinho to recruit a top quality attacking player.
Meanwhile, Chelsea boss Antonio Conte is eager to bolster his options in attack in order to build on the successful Premier League winning campaign of 2016/17. With just Eden Hazard, Pedro and Willian to consider for two positions, the Italian is believed to be eager to add a fourth option by signing Perisic in the summer.
However, it now looks like Manchester United have beaten Chelsea in the race to sign the player by completing a £40 million deal for him. The report suggests that Mourinho sought the help of old friend, Predrag Mijatovic, who is known to be the Mr Fix-It for transfers involving players from the former Yugoslavia.
Perisic has agreed to a £100,000-a-week deal with Manchester United. The 28-year-old is set to become the first signing for the club ahead of what is likely to be a busy summer of continued rebuilding by Jose Mourinho.
