Barcelona's Plan C: Inter winger Ivan Perisic - reports
Sevilla - Barcelona: Copa del Rey quarter-final
Barcelona have hatched a Plan C in their search for an attacking player if the Camp Nou’s overtures towards Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembélé do not bear fruit.
According to SportItalia, Inter Milan’s Croatia international Ivan Perisic has emerged as a potential target if Barça fail to land either the Brazilian or the Frenchman. Perisic, 28, can play as a winger, an attacking midfielder or a secondary striker and is left-footed, with Barça looking to that side of the pitch after Neymar’s departure and with Andrés Iniesta unlikely to play every game this season.
Inter value Perisic at 50 million euros
Manchester United have also been tracking Perisic this summer but so far have been unwilling to meet Inter’s 50-million-euro valuation. Although he is versatile, Perisic tends to play on the wing leading Barça to view Coutinho and Dembélé as more natural fits for the side. The Camp Nou board would ideally like to sign both players but given the practicalities of a double transfer of such magnitude have placed Perisic under consideration.
The Croatian may be a small step down in quality from Coutinho and Dembélé but the 28-year-old is extremely consistent and chipped in with 11 goals and 11 assists in Serie A last season.
Mahrez looking to Barça for Foxes exit
Meanwhile, Sport claim that Riyad Mahrez has offered himself to Barcelona. It is no secret that the Algeria international wants to leave Leicester City and Roma have yet to meet the Foxes’ asking price for the winger.
