Tottenham fans are enamored with the idea of signing Gareth Bale or Anthony Martial. Ivan Perisic could be the best signing of all for Spurs.
Mauricio Pochettino and Jose Mourinho have completely different managerial styles, but their fondness for attacking midfielders who work hard on the defensive end of the pitch can cause them to admire the same players. Inter Milan winger Ivan Perisic is a perfect example.
Reports from Italy claim that Spurs have already sounded out Inter about a possible move for the Croatian international. The Serie A club are initially balking at the idea of selling Perisic, but it’s believed they could be convinced with a big money offer. Something in the neighborhood of £40 million might be enough to bring Perisic to England.
If you’ll recall, Manchester United were linked heavily with Perisic last summer. A move never materialized but it was clear that Mourinho fancied the player. His main motivation was to acquire a player who can score goals, but also isn’t afraid to contribute on the defensive end of the pitch.
That’s the same quality Pochettino admires in him. Son Heung-Min is an excellent offensive player, but his failure to issue the same effort winning the ball back confounds the Spurs gaffer at times. That’s precisely why Erik Lamela repeatedly gets starts against teams with prodigious attacks. Pochettino is keenly aware of the need for balance in his midfield.
That’s not to say Perisic isn’t an excellent offensive player. He posted an impressive return of 11 goals and nine assists in 37 Serie A appearances last season. That was good enough to help him earn an excellent Whoscored.com player rating average of 7.35 on the year. The English game is a bit different from what you see in Italy, but Perisic has the athleticism and toughness to make the transition.
The only hesitation Spurs should have about this deal is due to Perisic’s age and potential wage demands. He’s already 29-years-old. It’s very likely that he can only play at a high level for another season or two. Perisic is, after all, dependent on his legs to outrun and outwork the opposition.
As such, Tottenham need to be careful about what sort of contact they might offer the Croatian star. Limiting a new deal to three years would be ideal. It remains to be seen whether or not Perisic would be open to a short-term contract.
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No matter what, Perisic would help Tottenham immensely in the short-term. He’d give Harry Kane another goal scoring threat on the wing while also supporting the defensive midfield with his work rate. He’s an ideal summer signing for Spurs.