Arsenal lining up loan swoop for long-term Manchester United target

According to The Sun, Arsenal could yet make waves in the transfer market this month with Inter reportedly ready to allow Ivan Perisic to leave the club on loan, provided a permanent fee is agreed for the end of the season.

The Croatian was a long-term target of Jose Mourinho at Manchester United but the Red Devils’ interest has cooled and Arsenal are keen to add to their squad despite no funds having been made available to Unai Emery this month.

That has meant that the Gunners have been on the lookout for loan additions, and Perisic’s apparent availability has caught their eye, with natural width in relatively short supply.

The 29-year-old would certainly offer as much, though his form has undoubtedly taking a turn for the worst this season and the winger, who started all but one league game last season, is now seen as dispensable to the Serie A club. Inter are reportedly willing to let the player go out on loan for the rest of the campaign if they can reach an agreement in the region of £18m on a permanent transfer for the summer.

Spalletti said: "Perisic is a very good player, of course there's rumours about him during the transfer window.

"If a player is good, it's obvious that every club would want him. Of course, then the figures must be adequate for things to go through.

"He knows his job and he also knows that we expect him to keep working just like he has done so far."

The Croatia international has started 14 of 18 league appearances this season but posted modest figures of three goals and two assists in that time, having scored 22 goals and registered 17 assists across the two seasons previous.