Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Arsenal transfer news: Ivan Perisic should join Gunners on one condition - pundit
ARSENAL should only sign Inter Milan winger Ivan Perisic if they can get the Croatian on loan.
Ivan Perisic WANTS to transfer to Arsenal says pundit
That is the opinion of ESPN FC pundit and former Chelsea midfielder Craig Burley.
Arsenal have been linked with a late move for Perisic in the last few days.
Inter Milan have reportedly turned down a loan move for the 29-year-old as they are only keen on a permanent deal.
Perisic is claimed to have handed in a transfer request and was an unused substitute in the loss at Torino on Sunday.
So I think if Arsenal can do a loan, I’m going to say yeah, as a loan signing
Some reports state Inter would be willing to let Perisic go on loan as long as there is an obligation for Arsenal to buy him in the summer.
But Burley does not think that would be a wise decision by Arsenal to sign a player who turns 30 this Saturday.
“I can see Perisic being a loan,” he said.
“I was talking to an old colleague of mine about it back in the UK.
Perisic to Arsenal should only be a loan deal says pundit
“He was saying ‘well, they should go and buy Perisic’.
“Next month he’s going to be 30, that’s not old, but we’re talking about no sell-on value here.
“So we’re plugging a hole for maybe a year or two, he’s not had a great season at Inter.
“So I think if Arsenal can do a loan, I’m going to say yeah, as a loan signing.
“I can’t see them going out and splashing big money.”
Perisic has scored just four goals in 25 appearances for Inter this season.
He can play on either wings and has been at Inter since joining from Wolfsburg in 2015.
Perisic scored the equalising goal for Croatia when they beat England 2-1 in the World Cup semi-final last summer.
He also found the net in the final before his side went down 4-2 against France.