Tottenham tipped to send Ivan Perisic back to Italy but only if they get top Inter Milan star in return
A report has claimed Tottenham Hotspur might ship Ivan Perisic back to Serie A just a year after he arrived in the Premier League, with a potential Inter Milan swap deal talked up.
Perisic left Inter in July 2022 to reunite with his former manager Antonio Conte at Tottenham. Conte had been influential in transforming Perisic from a winger into a wing-back and together they won the Serie A title in 2020-21.
Tottenham managed to capture Perisic on a free transfer as his Inter contract had expired. The deal was viewed as a coup for Spurs given the 34-year-old’s experience at the top level. Prior to his time at Inter, Perisic won trophies with Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Wolfsburg.
Perisic has made 38 appearances in all competitions for Spurs this season, managing one goal and 10 assists. Six of those assists have come in the Premier League and no Spurs player has managed more, with Dejan Kulusevski also on six.
Despite the Croatia international’s importance for Spurs, his future in north London is in doubt. As he has a great relationship with Conte, he could quit Spurs after the manager walked away from the club in late March.
Italian source Inter Live suggest Perisic wants to return to Inter this summer as he has a very close bond with the Nerazzurri and their fans.
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However, Perisic will not be able to achieve this transfer on his own, like he did when originally leaving Inter for Spurs. His contract with the Premier League outfit runs until June 2024, so Inter and Spurs must reach a compromise.
Inter Live claim the two teams might engage in a swap deal. Spurs will likely demand one of Inter’s best players join them in return.
Tottenham want Inter player in return for Perisic
The report names Stefan de Vrij as one potential solution, given Spurs’ strong links with the centre-back. Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has repeatedly been tipped to snare De Vrij but has so far been unable to do this.
The only trouble with the report predicting a swap deal involving Perisic and De Vrij is that the latter will actually become a free agent in the summer. De Vrij has run down his Inter contract ahead of taking part in a new challenge next season.
Due to this, Spurs can sign De Vrij regardless of whether Perisic is sent back to Inter, and there is no actual incentive for Spurs to allow their wide man to leave.
Perhaps Spurs will attempt to land De Vrij in a separate deal and then include Perisic in the negotiations for another Inter star. Spurs have been credited with an interest in midfielder Marcelo Brozovic, so maybe they could include Perisic in a deal for him to try and save some money.
Meanwhile, a Spurs hero has urged Levy to consider appointing a Premier League manager who ‘plays the Spurs way’.
