NOW GET PERISIC
Mourinho wants £45m deal for Inter winger as Januzaj heads for exit
MANCHESTER UNITED will increase their offer for Inter Milan winger Ivan Perisic after wrapping up Romelu Lukaku’s move to Old Trafford.
Jose Mourinho wants to sign a wide player as he prepares to offload one, with Adnan Januzaj set to join Real Sociedad for £9.8million today. It will complete a dramatic fall from grace for the Belgian, 22, who was United’s brightest prospect when he signed a five-year deal in 2013 but has spent much of the last two seasons out on loan.
Perisic is training at Inter’s pre-season camp and United want to complete a deal before the Italian club leave for China next week. Inter value Perisic at £48m and are unhappy with United’s opening offers of £36m and £39m.
An improved bid closer to £45m for the 28-year-old Croatian is now expected. Old Trafford chief Ed Woodward has stayed in England to continue negotiations while Mourinho and his squad have travelled to the US, and he is not expected to join the tour until next week. Despite signing Everton striker Lukaku in a deal that could be worth up to £90m and Benfica defender Victor Lindelof for £31m, Mourinho is said to want up to three more players.
Perisic was identified as a target some time ago but United’s pursuit of Lukaku took precedence. The Belgium striker was confirmed as a United player on Monday before training with his new team-mates for the first time in Los Angeles.
Perisic, who joined Inter for £14.6m from Wolfsburg two years ago, can play on the wing or as a second striker. He is understood to be keen on a move to Old Trafford and has posted a series of cryptic comments on social media, but new Inter boss Luciano Spalletti insists the player has not told the club he wants to go.
Although Spalletti admitted at the weekend Perisic had been ‘distracted’ by United’s interest, he would like to keep him.
It was thought Inter may have to sell Perisic to raise £26m and avoid a Financial Fair Play punishment, but the club met the June 30 deadline without the need to sacrifice a player who scored 11 goals for them last season.
Inter fly to China on Tuesday and want Perisic’s future resolved before then. United are also keen to accelerate their transfer business. Lukaku’s signing has only partially placated Mourinho, who has grown increasingly frustrated this summer. The United boss likes to bring in signings early so they can settle in, and has prioritised a holding midfielder in addition to Perisic.
Tiemoue Bakayoko, Eric Dier and Nemanja Matic have all been linked with a move, although Chelsea would be reluctant to do business with United over Matic after losing out on Lukaku. The Serbia midfielder was yesterday reported to be a target for Inter. It is understood that Dier, a boyhood United fan, would be open to a move but persuading Spurs to sell is another matter.
At least Mourinho is happy with United’s base at the UCLA campus in Los Angeles, a location he used as manager of Chelsea, Inter and Real Madrid. His players are being put through double training sessions ahead of the ir first tour game, against LA Galaxy in the early hours of Sunday. MICHAEL
CARRICK has been made United captain after the departure of Wayne Rooney to Everton.