It remains to be seen whether the potential deal which would send Inter Milan winger Ivan Perisic on loan to Arsenal will actually be realized this January transfer window, but Sunday brought news conveying that the wheels are very much in motion. Inter Milan general manager Beppe Marotta confirmed that Perisic has handed in a formal transfer request.
“We’ve listened to the player, who has expressed his desire to leave, but we need to make sure it makes sense from an economic point of view and no such offer has yet arrived,” Marotta said in an interview with Sky Sport Italia, “but there are a few days left.”
“When a player expresses the way he feels, in a correct manner, you’ve got to show understanding and accommodate him, but there are financial aspects that need to be respected.”
Due to financial constraints, if Arsenal do any shopping this winter, it will only be via loan. The Gunners reportedly want the Croatian sensation on a temporary deal with an option to potentially make the signing permanent at a price of £35 million come summer time.
As the comments of Marotta indicate though, Inter will only part ways with the player if the price is right, and it sounds like they might be playing some hardball here in negotiations with the north London side. Marotta added that he doesn’t believe things will get awkward for Ivan Perisic, or the club if his desired transfer away doesn’t go though.
“If he stays, it will be the job of the club, first and foremost the coach, to ensure the player delivers for the rest of the season,” he added.
In addition to Perisic, a long time Manchester United/Jose Mourinho target, Arsenal are also currently keen on Barcelona midfielder Denis Suarez.
However, the window closes Thursday, so they don’t have much time left to get either of these deals over the line.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
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