Premier League heavyweights Chelsea have reportedly reached an agreement to sign 33-year-old Croatian utility man Ivan Perisic in a Bosman move.
According to a report by Italian outlet Sportmediaset, Ivan Perisic will leave Inter Milan as a free agent in the summer transfer window. The 33-year-old utility man will end his adventure in Serie A to join Chelsea, with personal terms already agreed between the two parties to complete a Bosman move.
Ivan Perisic has been with Inter Milan for nearly seven years. But the Croatian international has particularly risen in stature since returning from a loan spell at Bayern Munich in the 2019/20 season. The veteran utility man enjoyed a solid 2020/21 campaign but has raised his performance levels manifold in the ongoing campaign.
The 33-year-old has excelled as a left wing-back, amassing nine goals and eight assists in 47 outings across all competitions thus far. But Perisic has around a month left on his Inter Milan contract, and he could leave the Serie A outfit as a free agent in the summer transfer window. Such a situation has captured the attention of Chelsea.
The interest from Chelsea stems from the rampant uncertainties surrounding the futures of Marcos Alonso and Emerson Palmieri. While Alonso is keen on returning to Spain amid heavy links with Barcelona, Emerson could move back to Italy, with several Serie A outfits showing an interest in him.
The duo’s departure will leave Ben Chilwell as the only left wing-back option for Thomas Tuchel’s system at Chelsea, especially with academy product Ian Maatsen emerging on Borussia Dortmund’s radar. Perisic is thus a viable short-term solution for the Blues to prefer, considering he is keen on leaving Inter Milan.
The 33-year-old Croatian utility man could offer a couple of years to Chelsea as Chilwell’s backup until Maatsen is ready to compete with the English international. And according to Sportmediaset, the Blues have reached an agreement to sign Perisic once he leaves Inter Milan in the summer transfer window.
But reputed Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano has debunked claims by Sportmediaset, claiming Perisic does not have an agreement with any club yet. But Romano mentioned that Chelsea’s interest in the 33-year-old exists, and it will be interesting to see if he moves to Stamford Bridge if he leaves Serie A giants Inter Milan as a free agent.
