Ivan Perisic has handed in a transfer request in an attempt to force through a move to Arsenal after Internazionale rejected the Premier League side’s attempt to sign him on loan.
The Croatia international has emerged as Unai Emery’s key target for the January transfer window, with Arsenal having already seen an offer turned down to take the 29-year-old on loan until the end of the season with a €40m option to buy.
Inter are understood to be open to allowing Perisic to leave, although they would prefer a permanent deal or obligation to buy for the player they signed from Wolfsburg in 2015.
“Perisic has asked to leave but there is no offer for him,” said Inter’s director, Giuseppe Marotta. “We will see in the coming days. We will listen to the request of Perisic. He has put in a transfer request; we must try to satisfy him but also respect the value of him.”
It remains to be seen whether Arsenal return with a new bid after Emery admitted earlier this month that they will be able to sign players only on loan this month.