Manchester United’s spending in recent seasons has been more miss than hit. With money flying out of the club at a rapid rate and many of the world’s best players now wearing the red of England’s most successful club, Old Trafford is home to some gifted youngsters and highly paid veterans.
From Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Radamel Falcao to Angel di Maria and Anthony Martial, the high profile additions have been consistent in the years since Alex Ferguson left the club. On field success, though, has not followed. Poor performances, uninspiring football and a couple of silver pots have been the main themes of post-Ferguson life.
The gossip columns will link Jose Mourinho’s side with many a costly addition this summer, but one name that has cropped up recently is the Croatia and Inter Milan forward, Ivan Perisic, who could cost United around £51m. For a club that boasts Martial, Ibrahimovic, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Jesse Lingard, Juan Mata and Marcus Rashford, this seems a little unnecessary, particularly when we consider the other areas of the squad that are crying out for some of the financial firepower that the forward line has received.
Perisic would offer Mourinho versatility. Comfortable on either flank, behind the centre forward or as a second striker, the Croatian is a great man to have in the squad. Industrious, too, he is an archetypal Mourinho player.
Depth in the final third, though, is no issue for United. Even if Wayne Rooney leaves this summer, the club is well stocked in attacking positions. If they did want to add another option, paying such a princely sum for a player of Perisic’s calibre would seem misguided. Other forwards could be signed for the sort of fees discussed bring better pedigree and are less likely to decline as soon as the Crotian, who is 28.
Primarily used from the left flank this season in Serie A, Perisic arriving at Old Trafford would only reduce the game time available to Martial. The Frenchman has already had a relatively rocky relationship with Mourinho, despite being one of the world’s best young players. The Crotian’s return of nine league goals thus far is better than any United player other than Ibrahimovic, but there is no reason to suggest he would be as prolific in the offensively indifferent Manchester United side.
Perisic is a battler rather than a creator. With height and strength, he can be a real threat from the left and has a vicious shot that can cause trouble when drifting into a narrower position from the flank, but he is not a player that would automatically start for Mourinho given all the exceptional talents they possess. If anything, he would be a player for Mourinho to lean on in challenging away fixtures.
Value may not matter to United, but Perisic’s price would only suggest he will be brought to the club to play as a starter on a regular basis. A rotation option, perhaps, but the club can find better alternatives and would directly risk the development of Martial by signing the Inter man.
A useful man to have in the squad unquestionably, but Perisic could end up being a very costly squad player indeed. He might be ideal for Mourinho, though, and that could see a transfer go through. His age, however, is a reason for concern for a player who will only be a cog in the machine.
