Reports: Barcelona tracking Croatian star Ivan Perisic
Spanish champions Barcelona are reported to be targeting Croatian winger Ivan Perišic. The Inter Milan player has been in superb form in the ongoing European Championships in France and has already scored 2 goals in 3 games.
According to Sport, Barca are keeping a close eye on the former Dortmund and Wolfsburg player as he'd make a great player to have on their roster. With former target Nolito seemingly heading to Manchester City, Perišic is considered as a serious alternative for the Catalans.
Perišic was Croatia's top goalscorer in UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying, scoring six goals in nine matches as Croatia qualified in second place in Group H and has the knack of scoring crucial goals for both club and country. The Croatian winger is extremely versatile and would essentially be able to play anywhere up front in the fluid 4-3-3 that Barcelona often turn out in.
He can also play as an attacking midfielder and has excellent work rate. Perišic has been a crucial component of a Croatia unit that has impressed in the Euros and managed to beat Spain to win their group.
Inter Milan paid a fee of around €16 million euros for him though, and at 27 years old he is in the prime of his career and would be anything but cheap. Inter coach Roberto Mancini was especially keen on landing him from Wolfsburg last summer in what had turned out to be one of the most drawn out transfer stories before the Serie A club finally got their man.
Perišic is quick, skillful and is often able to beat his man with ease and would be a great recruitment for just about any team. Inter will be determined to hang on to him, should the Spanish giants make a move and Perišic does appear to have settled well in Italy but the lure of Barcelona could be too much to resist.