Chelsea have reached an initial agreement to sign Inter Milan star Ivan Perisic on a free transfer, according to reports in Italy.
The 33-year-old is out of contract with Inter at the end of the campaign and is yet to reach a new agreement with the Italian side.
It’s believed that the Croatia international has been demanding a new three-year deal worth just under £100,000 a week but Inter are only offering a two-year contract worth around £65,000 a week.
Perisic has been angered by Inter’s approach to his contract situation and criticised them after he scored a brace in the victory over Juventus in the Coppa Italia final on Wednesday.
‘I don’t know anything yet,’ Perisic told Sports Mediaset. ‘With important players, you don’t wait to the last minute. You ought to know that too.’
According to Sports Mediaset on Friday, Perisic has now reached an initial agreement with the Blues and is ready to leave Inter as a free agent at the end of the campaign.
The report claims that the deal is subject to a medical and the final formalities of the agreement have not been signed yet, but Chelsea appear to be in the driving seat to sign the Croatian.
Perisic has been an influential part of Inter’s side this season, with seven goals and six assists in Serie A thus far.
The winger helped guide Inter to the title last campaign under Antonio Conte but the Serie A club are now trailing league leaders AC Milan by two points with two league matches left of the current campaign.
Chelsea, meanwhile, have been hamstrung by their restrictions after Roman Abramovich’s sanction in March.
The Champions League holders have been unable to offer new contracts to members of their team, which has seen Antonio Rudiger decide to join Real Madrid on a free transfer this summer.
