Would Perisic be a good signing for Chelsea?
Cameron Smith
- Updated: 13 May 2022 16:19 BST
- 4 min read
Chelsea have reportedly reached an agreement with Inter star Ivan Perisic over a possible summer transfer.
Perisic, 33, will become a free agent this summer when his contract at San Siro expires, and Chelsea have acted fast with negotiations.
The Croatian international joined Inter from Wolsburg in 2015 and has been in Italy ever since, although he did spend the 2019/20 season on loan at Bayern Munich.
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He was a key facet of Antonio Conte's Scudetto winning side last season and has continued that role under new head coach Simone Inzaghi.
Although traditionally a left-winger, Perisic has been deployed at left-wing-back under both Conte and Inzaghi over the past two season, and with great success.
Across 65 Serie A games in the previous two campaigns, Perisic has contributed 22 goals and assists, which is a very respective amount for someone playing in his position.
According to Italian outlet Sport Mediaset, the 2018 World Cup runner-up has agreed to a move to Chelsea, and his signature and a medical are the only things left to finalise the transfer.
If Perisic is to join the Blues, he will arrive as a Coppa Italia winner following his brace in the final to help Inter emerge victorious over Juventus in the final.
At 33 years old, Perisic is no longer in his prime, but he's arguably in the form of his life and he'd join Chelsea ready to help the Blues push on.
Ben Chilwell is the first choice option at Chelsea, especially in their 3-4-3 system, but the Englishman has sat out the vast majority of the season due to injury. He's now back in training, but a return to the starting XI still seems a way off, so signing a back-up or rotation option is likely seen as a priority this year.
Marcos Alonso is quite clearly a stopgap option for Thomas Tuchel, with the pair seemingly locking horns in several games this season, not least in the 2-2 draw at home to Wolves in early May.
The Spaniard is reportedly on his way out of Chelsea, with Barcelona currently the club leading the race to sign him and offer the full-back a return to Spain.
Emerson Palmieri is also still on Chelsea's books despite spending the season on loan at Lyon, but his career at Stamford Bridge may be over given he was loaned out this year and Alonso was preferred.
Ian Maatsen is also an option to Tuchel after impressing on loan at Coventry in the Championship this year. The Dutchman won Coventry's Young Player of the Year award after his eye-catching campaign, but he's already been linked with a move to Borussia Dortmund on another loan.
Is Perisic the answer?
Despite his age profile, Perisic has shown no sign of slowing down, and in fact looks the best he ever has during his career in Italy.
A strong and powerful runner, Perisic adds a goal-threat from the left flank, like Chilwell does, and would provide Tuchel with another option should Chilwell fall victim to another long-term injury.
With Alonso and Emerson both looking likely to leave, a new body in that position needs to arrive and Perisic would be an excellent short-term option. His age means he'd be able to give two years of service competing with Chilwell, and would allow Maatsen to develop on loan before potentially being integrated into the first-team squad.
Chilwell will become the first choice again, so if Perisic is willing to give up considerable minutes to join Chelsea then it's a great move for the Blues. Furthermore, given the vast amount of games across a season, it's reasonable to suggest Perisic would play a key role in every competition were he to sign for Chelsea.
It's not a move that will break the bank in terms of wages, or attract too many headlines, but it would be very astute business. Following the success of Thiago Silva after arriving on a free transfer, Perisic could follow that path and be a success story at Stamford Bridge.
