Croatian international Ivan Perisic is reportedly on the radar of the Premier League clubs Arsenal and Tottenham over a possible summer move.
Ivan Perisic’s perennial links to the Premier League are set to continue for another summer, as the Croatian international is reportedly back on the radar of English clubs. Sport Witness are reporting that Arsenal and Tottenham are interested in the winger after the Inter Milan star failed to make a move to England in the January window.
Before the January transfer window, Perisic had been long-running links with Manchester United, although a move never came to fruition. Back in January, Arsenal were thought to be the front runners for his signature, although the pursuit ended when Arsenal reportedly insisted on a loan deal as opposed to a permanent transfer, which Inter Milan preferred.
With the transfer failing to materialise, Perisic reportedly sacked his agency and has since signed up with Doyen Sports with the idea of moving away from San Siro, while Inter manager Luciano Spalletti also claimed Arsenal ‘conned’ the Croat into dreaming of a move.
Interest in Perisic was only on the rise following his excellent performances in last summer’s World Cup, though his current campaign with Inter has been somewhat underwhelming. He is currently valued at around €35 million, but clubs from the Premier League or elsewhere do not see great value in paying such a hefty fee for a player who is already 30.
Age, however, has not deterred his reputation, as clubs like Arsenal and Tottenham could go and snap him up if a good opportunity arrives. Both Arsenal and Tottenham though, are in a difficult situation in terms of finances, and might not agree to pay what Inter want for the player. The Gunners are looking to sign a winger, while Spurs could certainly do with an experienced head such as Perisic.
Arsenal, in particular, want someone with Perisic’s experience and quality to add to their attacking lineup. The North Londoners are reportedly considering selling Henrikh Mkhitaryan in the next window, while Danny Welbeck, who is regarded as a wide forward could leave on a free when his contract expires. Perisic would undoubtedly bring in loads of value, and ably replace either of those players.
Tottenham, on the other hand, could be considering Perisic as a way to beef up Mauricio Pochettino’s options, with the current backup players not really stepping up when required. Inter, meanwhile, are actively looking for a cash deal in the summer, as it would not only free up wages but also ensure they receive a transfer fee to be invested in a replacement.
In the end, it would be interesting to see if Perisic finally makes his move across to England and represents a club from the Premier League or simply remains in Italy in the summer.
