It’s hard to imagine that, if Ivan Perisic tuned into Wednesday’s Merseyside Derby at Goodison Park, he would not have been put off the idea of putting pen to paper with a crisis-riddled Everton side in the New Year.
Their confidence as brittle as refrigerated taffee, Rafa Benitez’s Everton snapped once again in front of an irate Gwladys Street end as Liverpool ran riot.
And, in truth, they were rather lucky to escape with only a 4-1 defeat at home to their most hated rivals.
If Liverpool had shown a little more ruthlessness, particularly in a dominant 30 minutes, 4-1 could have become 5-1. Maybe even six.
The Toffees have come unstuck once again now winless in eight Premier League games. That run that includes a 5-2 battering against Watford and losses to both Brentford and Wolves.
So if Everton fans were hoping to see Perisic ride into Goodison Park, their very own a saviour on a white steed, we would advise against holding your breath (L’Interista).
Now, Tottenham Hotspur are hardly in great shakes themselves – that 2-1 defeat to Slovenian outfit NS Mura felt to many like a rock-bottom moment for a club who have fallen off a cliff since reaching the Champions League final as recently as 2019.
But with a world-renowned manager in Antonio Conte at the helm, things are at least looking up for Spurs.
Will Ivan Perisic now join Spurs rather than Everton?
According to Sport1, Tottenham have hi-jacked Everton’s pursuit of Perisic.
The Croatia international has turned down the chance to extend his £125,000-a-week contract at the San Siro and is now understood to be in talks with the North London giants.
Perisic won the Serie A title alongside Conte at Inter last season and the admiration between player and manager is very much mutual.
“Perisic is an excellent player with outstanding physical strength,” Conte said during their time together at the Italian champions.
“He is good at beating (his man). He has the ability to play one-on-one. I need Perisic like this. He will keep because he has quality.”
With Perisic now closing in on a move to Spurs rather than Everton, the problems just keep mounting for Rafa Benitez.
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