PSV Eindhoven winger Ivan Perisic has emerged as a surprise target for Barcelona in the transfer window (h/t Mundo Deportivo).
Having secured the transfer of Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia, Barca want to sign a top-class left-winger this summer.
Liverpool’s Luis Diaz is the Catalan club’s dream target. However, the Reds are reluctant to sell him despite his desire to move to Barca.
AC Milan’s Rafael Leao has also been linked with the club, but his €100 million valuation combined with his hefty wages makes him a long shot.
Barca manager Hansi Flick believes that Perisic would be a useful addition to the squad, having previously worked with him at Bayern Munich.
The Croatian forward played a key role in Bayern’s sextuple-winning campaign under Flick in 2019/20.
The 36-year-old is proving to be getting better with age following his prolific campaign with PSV this season. He bagged 16 goals and 11 assists in all competitions.
Perisic stood out in the Champions League, scoring decisive goals against Juventus in the play-offs to knock them out of the competition.
He also continued his rich vein of form with the national team, scoring in Croatia’s 5-1 win over Czechia in the World Cup qualifiers earlier this week.
Perisic’s contract with the Dutch giants expires this summer, presenting a great opportunity for Barcelona to sign him on a free transfer.
The La Liga champions have focused on cost-effective signings in recent years to navigate their financial crisis, and they can continue the trend with Perisic.
The former Inter Milan star will be viewed as a short-term signing, but he has the quality and experience to add depth to Barca’s attacking options.
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