Manchester United are now out of the race for the top four and have their future hinging on a 90 minute game at Stockholm in a week’s time. They need Champions League football to lure top transfer targets this summer and one such player Mourinho is constantly keeping tabs on is Inter Milan midfielder Ivan Perisic.
Also linked with a move to PSG, Perisic has reportedly opened talks for a move to Old Trafford this summer. Standing as one of the most versatile players in world football, Perisic is a winger, who can also be productive in a midfield role from a deeper position. He has been a mainstay at the San Siro and has 10 goals and nine assists in 40 appearances in all competitions this season.
The Red Devils have their own issues in the midfield area and Mourinho is looking at stars who can play as a part of the midfield three next season. Perisic, though more productive on the wing, can be used as alongside Paul Pogba and Ander Herrera, in an advanced role that could suit him.
The likes of Marouane Fellaini and Michael Carrick are expected to leave the club at the end of the season and Perisic might not be the only midfielder Mourinho will spend. But he is a utility player who can cover for more than one position and the manager will surely be tempted to sign him up, for his versatility.
A strong midfielder who loves to dominate his area, Perisic is an excellent passer of the ball and is at his best in counter-attack situations. He is not a winger who will take on the full-backs but is a player who loves to cut in and use the space in front of the opposition backline.
The Red Devils can also use him as a winger, in one of the four competitions, if needed. He can play the long pass with precision and consistency while his crossing is also decent. He is also disciplined with his dirty work and is a genuinely hard working player who Mourinho might have an immediate affinity to.
Having made more than 50 appearances for the Croatian national team, Perisic is also experienced at the highest level and at 28, he is in his prime as a footballer. He is a wanted commodity in the transfer market and though his asking price of £51m is a bit steep, the amount of work he might do at Old Trafford, if he makes the switch, more than justifies his price tag.
