​Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho was in Croatia during the international break where it was said that he was 'finalising' a £35m move for Inter Milan winger Ivan Perisic.


That story was quickly refuted by Mourinho himself, who explained he was in Croatia for nothing other than personal reasons, but fresh rumours have now linked United to an even more expensive Perisic move.


Gazzetta dello Sport states that 'Manchester United are serious'.

Udinese Calcio v FC Internazionale - Serie A

The Italian publication is claiming that Perisic is one of Mourinho's priorities and that €60m is the fee the Old Trafford club is prepared to pay for the 28-year-old.


Part of that is apparently due to rival interest from Chelsea on the alleged advice of Antonio Conte. The Italian directly faced Perisic while in charge of Italy during Euro 2016 and will be more than aware of what the winger has done in Serie A over the last couple of seasons.


A 'auction', as described by Gazzetta, would be the best case scenario for Inter. The fallen giants are said to be keen for an agreement on any sale to be in place before the formal start of the summer transfer window, presumably to give them optimum time to plan their own recruitment.

FBL-ITA-SERIEA-INTER-CHIEVO

It is said that Suning, the club's Chinese owners, are ready to invest heavily, but will require a big sale - Perisic is considered the only option as club captain Mauro Icardi is deemed too precious - to balance things out in the face of financial fair play restrictions.


The fact that Inter seem so desperate to start a bidding war might be where this rumour falls down, though.


Exaggerated claims of interest fed to the press is an old tactic, and so it remains to be seen quite how genuine United's alleged willingness is to spend €60m on a 28-year-old who, while a very good player, falls short of being the kind of elite superstar one would expect for that price.

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