According to the latest reports, Inter Milan star winger Ivan Perisic was keen on moving to Premier League club Arsenal as Inter president revealed that it is difficult to keep players at the club especially Perisic. However, with the transfer deadline day ending at midnight on the 31st of January Perisic’s move to Arsenal did not go through as the Gunners did not persist with an official offer despite being heavily linked with the Croatian superstar.
Ever since taking charge of Arsenal football club in the summer of 2018, Unai Emery has done quite a great job at the Emirates Stadium as Arsenal currently sit in fourth place on the Premier League table. The Spanish manager took over the reins from legendary Frenchman Arsene Wenger after the 69-year-old ended his 22-year tenure at Arsenal. Although Arsenal went on a 22 game unbeaten streak in all competitions this season, a few dodgy results in the recent past dented Arsenal’s hope of a comfortable qualification for Champions League football next season.
Chelsea is in close proximity along with Manchester United as the battle for a top 4 spot is still very much alive. The Gunners did manage to make one big name signing in the January transfer window as Denis Suarez joined the Premier League outfit from La Liga club Barcelona on a loan deal. The Spanish play-maker would add some quality to Arsenal’s midfield department as the club will hope to finish the second half of the season on a strong note. Emery is still aware that he needs to re-enforce his squad in order to attain a positive finish and Suarez will certainly help that cause considering World Cup winning superstar Mesut Ozil is seldom used by the 47-year-old.
However, Arsenal did have the chance to sign another high-quality player in the winter transfer window as Inter Milan attacker Ivan Perisic was linked with a move to the North London side before transfer deadline day. In fact, reports claimed that the 30-year-old handed in his transfer request to leave the San Siro after speculated interest from Arsenal.
Perisic was also left out of Inter’s Matchday squad that played Torino at the weekend. Inter’s chief Executive Giuseppe Marotta admitted that it is difficult to keep players like Perisic at the club as the World Cup finalist was keen on a move away from Italy. In an interview with Sky Sports Italia, Marotta said “It is difficult to keep players that don’t want to stay but no offer has arrived yet so, therefore, the prerequisite for a transfer simply isn’t there, This also happens at other teams, I am a supporter of a restrictive transfer window, but with the fact that it closes on the 31st [ of January], a lot of players wish to leave their clubs.”
Arsenal could have made a move for Perisic but with no real official offer on the table, the star winger will now remain at Inter Milan till the end of the season. Hopefully, they are able to sign him in the summer transfer window, as they really need some quality upfront.
