If the latest report on the Ivan Perisic to Manchester United saga in Gazzetta dello Sport is true, then Inter Milan either have the biggest cojones in the transfer market, or are just messing around with the Red Devils.
Up until now, and it’s been repeated over and over and over and over and over again, the Serie A club’s stance has been the same: €50-55m (depending on reports) and the Croatian forward is José Mourinho’s.
So far, however, Ed Woodward has refused to stump up the money, probably hoping to negotiate a lower fee somehow.
Well, it appears that Inter have had enough of waiting and have offered Manchester United an alternative method of payment: a player swap.
Gazzetta dello Sport explain that Walter Sabatini, Suning Group’s technical director, and Piero Ausilio, Inter’s director of football, have had their eye on Anthony Martial for a while now, and bringing him in would be adequate compensation for the departing Perisic.
Yes, the Serie A side ‘have asked’ the Red Devils for Anthony Martial in exchange for their Croatian star.
The reasoning here is that they value Perisic at around €55m, and they feel swapping him for the French forward would even things out nicely.
Firstly, when was the last time two clubs traded players of Martial’s and Perisic’s statures like they were mere Pokémon cards?
Secondly, if Manchester United don’t think the Inter forward is worth €55m (because if they did, they would have already met the club’s requests), why on earth would they just give them a player they’ve already spent €60m on? (one of the €10m add-ons in Martial’s transfer was triggered last season)
Thirdly, and finally, while Perisic might be overjoyed at the idea of joining the Red Devils, who’s to say Martial wants to go to Inter, a club where Champions League football is non-existent next year, isn’t guaranteed in the future and where the likelihood of winning trophies is far slimmer?
Look, we’re not saying it’ll never happen, because anything is possible in football.
It just seems like one of the biggest long shots of the transfer window so far from the Italian side.
One worth attempting, granted, but it’s also one that seems very unlikely to work out for them.
And just if that wasn’t enough, Inter are also said to be keeping an eye on both Chris Smalling and Matteo Darmian, but those appear to be separate to the Ivan Perisic saga.
More of a “once you give us our money, we might give you some back for some of your players”.
