Ivan Perisic’s agent, Fali Ramadani, has visited Manchester United today to update the club on contract talks with the winger, according to reports from Italy.
The 29-year-old claimed 11 goals for the Nerazzurri last season and has been a figure of interest to Jose Mourinho since June, with the United boss determined to land a more conventional, direct winger over the summer to contrast with the likes of Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Juan Mata, Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial and to optimise service to Romelu Lukaku in the box.
But negotiations have proven difficult and perhaps impossible. United initially believed they could prize Perisic away from the San Siro for around £26m – the amount Inter needed to pay before July 1 in order to comply with Financial Fair Play regulations. But the Italians managed to meet FFP parity without selling their most valuable asset and, in turn, demanded nothing less than £45m as a minimum asking price for the winger – a fee United deem to be exorbitant. And with negotiations approaching a state of complete inertia, Inter put another offer to United: a reduced fee with Anthony Martial coming the other way on loan. Needless to say, the club aren’t interested in letting the Frenchman go anywhere.
And according to FCInterNews.it (via Football Italia), Ramadani held talks with club officials to update them on a lucrative new contract being proposed to Perisic that will see him earn €5m – a whole €1.5m more than what he currently earns – as new manager Luciano Spalletti, initially resigned to an imminent departure to Old Trafford, attempts to stamp out United’s interest for good.
A move for Perisic now appears extremely unlikely but far from dead in the water. Ramadani’s meeting with United, in which he outlined the improved sum being offered to the winger, may have been a way of telling the board that if Mourinho really does want to tick off every area in need of reinforcement this summer, they will need to offer a package eclipsing the one being proposed by Inter. And fast.
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[…] Inter Milan demanding Martial on loan if there was ever to be a deal for Manchester United to buy Perisic. Again, this was turned down by Mourinho in recent weeks, hopefully meaning that Martial is in his […]