Jose Mourinho is ready to make a third move for the Inter Milan winger Ivan Perisic after it’s become clear that the Croatian international may be available at a cut-price, according to reports from the Evening Standard.
The Portuguese is a noted admirer of the 29-year-old, who reached a World Cup final with his nation this summer, and has tried to take him from the grasp of the Milanese before, but the £48m that was slapped on his head by the Serie A club’s hierarchy has proven too rich for the United board to stomach.
Sources in Italy, according to these same reports, indicate that Perisic could be snapped up for just £31m as early as January.
Fully two-footed, tall, strong in the air, Perisic looks every inch the “Mourinho player” and could form part of a rebounding effort by the club from the poor summer’s business that nobbled them before their season even began in anger this year.
The sort of top-grade centre-back that Mourinho has publically craved could come as early as the winter transfer window, too, with Toby Alderweireld remaining a likely target.
Alderweireld would be available for £25.4m next summer, per these same reports, and so would likely be available at a snip this January, too, should his club Tottenham be minded to sell.
Executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward had his run-ins with the club’s manager over transfers this past summer, but two of his long-term targets could feasibly be secured for relatively reasonable fees this January.