Arsenal are reportedly interested in signing three specific players this summer so let’s take a look at who they are.

2Ivan Perisic

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 27: Ivan Perisic attends an Inter Milan press conference at Wembley Stadium on November 27, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 27: Ivan Perisic attends an Inter Milan press conference at Wembley Stadium on November 27, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

One of the biggest rumours over the January transfer window, Arsenal were said to be interested in signing Perisic from Inter Milan only for Inter Milan to accuse Arsenal of ‘conning’ the player.

Speaking to the media after Inter’s cup exit to Lazio, their second consecutive defeat in two games without Perisic, Spalletti tried to shift the blame for the whole situation away from the player, who asked for a transfer, and onto Arsenal.

“As for Perisic, there was this story on the market, but he is a professional, understands his role and yesterday it was already a very different mood,” Spalletti said (via Goal).

“These things happen in the transfer window, the player received an impressive proposal and was tempted.”However, he then realised it was not a true offer, that he’d been conned, and took a step back. Now he’ll resume training and as soon as his mind is back fully on Inter, we’ll let him play.”

This is a completely different take on events than the one being reported by every other source.

Inter’s own director revealed Perisic had submitted a transfer request. Then, reliable sources like the BBC‘s David Ornstein confirmed the move only fell through over a disagreement between Arsenal and Inter over the nature of the deal.

Arsenal wanted a loan with an option to buy, whereas Inter would only accept a permanent deal or a loan with an obligation to buy. In the end, the two clubs couldn’t reach a compromise, but there’s no suggestion it had anything to do with Perisic realising he’d been conned and stepping back.

You can understand why Spalletti is fabricating his own storyline though. The Inter fans are much more likely to warm to Perisic again if they think it was the player’s decision not to leave after coming to his senses. Considering the Serie A club’s form without the winger, they need him back in the team as soon as possible.

Perisic made sense when it was a loan deal but it’s hard to understand the club spending serious money on him in a permanent deal.