With teams like Everton and Zenit reportedly interested in signing Marcelo Brozovic, we thought we were done with the Croatian being linked to Champions League teams in England, but Gazzetta dello Sport had other ideas.
Looking at the Ivan Perisic situation, which hasn’t changed (Ed Woodward still being stubborn and not upping his offer), the Italian newspaper also look at the other ways Inter could raise the €30m they need to pay to comply with FFP regulations.
As has been previously explained, the likes of Marcelo Brozovic and Ever Banega are the likeliest alternatives to Ivan Perisic to get that kind of money, a scenario they would much prefer.
Possibly to reassure Inter fans about their club’s decision to reject an €18m bid from Everton for Marcelo Brozovic, Gazzetta say that José Mourinho is also interested in the Croatian midfielder.
The last time #EpicBrozo, as he’s known, was linked with a move to Old Trafford was back in April by Tuttosport, who said the Special One ‘wasn’t scared’ of the player’s €50m release clause.
At the time, we wrote: “The Italian media have been pushing Brozovic’s fee higher, despite saying for months he’d be available for €25m. Jose Mourinho has a big transfer kitty, but he’s not a mug, and if Manchester United paid such a fee it could only be seen as the manager doing a favour to his former club”.
If Inter are rejecting €18m for him, our bet would be they’re still hoping for the €25m the Italian press said they were asking for back then.
However, with nine days left before the FFP deadline, we’re not sure they’re in as strong and stable of a position as they think they are.
Yes, we get you can’t simply accept the first offer that lands on your desk, but with time running out, this could easily backfire.
The longer they do it, though, the wider Ed Woodward’s Cheshire cat grin gets.
His €40m offer for Perisic is there, simply waiting to be accepted, and with Mourinho wanting players in before mid-July, the Manchester United CEO has all the time in the world.
Inter don’t.
