Manchester United have reportedly rekindled their interest in Croatian international Ivan Perisic and have made an enquiry to Inter Milan about his availability.
According to a report from Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport, Manchester United are set to revive their interest in Inter Milan winger Ivan Perisic and have made initial contact with the Serie A side over the possibility of a transfer in the ongoing window.
The 29-year-old Croatian international was one of Manchester United’s primary transfer targets in the summer transfer window, with then manager Jose Mourinho extremely intent on signing the winger. However, a move failed to materialise as the Red Devils were unwilling to meet Inter’s asking price for their superstar.
Perisic revealed earlier this month that he had come close to joining the Old Trafford club. “It’s true that an offer from Manchester United was on the table and I was close to leaving Inter. But I decided to stay and, as I said, [Luciano] Spalletti’s perseverance to keep me played a big role,” he said.
However, Manchester United have reopened negotiations with the Nerazzurri to enquire about the 29-year-old’s availability, as they look for the first major signing under interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Manchester United are getting back into their groove after a disastrous start to the season that culminated with the sacking of Mourinho last month. Under Solskjaer, the 20-time English champions have racked up seven straight victories across all competitions, with the entire squad looking revitalized.
The attacking contingent of Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard have been in fine nick under the Norwegian. And with Romelu Lukaku, Juan Mata and Alexis Sanchez waiting in the wings, along with academy prospects like Tahith Chong and Mason Greenwood, the United attack looks sorted.
However, the Red Devils have lacked an out-and-out winger in their ranks who would provide the natural width in the final third for quite a while now, with all the players that they use on the flanks leaning towards cutting in from the wide areas. Bringing in Perisic would address that issue and add an alternate dimension to their attack.
The Croatian international joined Inter from German outfit VfL Wolfsburg in 2015 and has gone on to feature 143 times for the club, scoring and assisting 34 goals apiece. In the 2018-19 campaign, Perisic has scored 3 times and set up 5 more goals in 25 matches.
The 29-year-old has scored 22 times in 78 appearances for the Croatian national team, including in the semi-final and the final of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia last summer. Vastly experienced at the topmost level and in the peak years of his career, the winger could prove to be a solid addition to the Manchester United attack.
Perisic is contracted to Inter till 2022 and it is understood that the Serie A giants would consider a sale if an offer of £40 million is made. But, it remains to be seen if Manchester United press ahead with their pursuit of the Croat this month, with the club likely to prioritise the signing of a new central defender at the moment.
