Manchester United are reportedly keeping close tabs on Inter Milan midfielder Ivan Perisic as Jose Mourinho aims to bring in the Croatian international to the side. Reports even claimed that the Manchester United manager has flown to Zagreb where Croatia face Ukraine in a World Cup qualifier tonight.
Perisic has been one of the best players for Serie A giants, Inter Milan, in what has been a pretty underwhelming season for them. And Manchester United, who are expected to see two of their most experienced players, Michael Carrick and Bastian Schweinsteiger leave next season, are in desperate need of a midfielder to partner Paul Pogba.
The £89m signing from Juventus last year didn’t turn out to be as smooth as expected as the French midfielder has struggled constantly in Manchester United’s midfield. Mourinho’s attacking setup essentially needs someone like Perisic who is a ball winner up in the attacking third, and will give the perfect time to Pogba with the ball at his feet; something Fabregas enjoys with Kante at his side.
Though Herrera has been somewhat near to that, Mourinho seems to find a specialist in that position to get his tactics spot on. And Inter’s £35m-rated midfielder seems perfect for it. Perisic has netted nine goals and provided six assists in 27 Serie A appearances for Inter so far, this season.
At 187cm, the 28-year-old is deadly from set-pieces as he wins most of the aerial duels. And his ability to find the perfect pass on the counter looks unequalled at times. His versatility could also be a huge asset for Manchester United if they manage to land him. Perisic can play equally well as a winger, second striker or attacking midfielder, something we have seen Henrikh Mkhitaryan doing this season.
An academy product of Croatian side HNK Hajduk Split, Perisic was taken up early by French second-tier side FC Sochaux-Montbéliard, from where he spent a loan stint with Belgian side KSV Roeselare. His impressive displays in Belgium attracted interest from Club Brugge and he was sold to them in 2009.
After two impressive stints with them, Borussia Dortmund bought him in 2011, where he won the Bundesliga and the German Cup. His sublime displays in the attacking midfield led Vfl Wolfsburg to pick him up two years later, where he won the German Cup yet again before Inter bought him in 2015.
Undoubtedly, getting him will be a significant step for Manchester United towards a title challenge next season and given the good relationship Mourinho has with Perisic’s agent Predrag Mijatovic, a deal is very much possible.
