Football
Ben Gladwell, Italy correspondent 7y

Man United target Ivan Perisic going nowhere for now - Inter Milan's Ausilio

Inter Milan sporting director Piero Ausilio has played down suggestions Ivan Perisic is on the verge of a move to Manchester United, while Jose Mourinho has said he has "no idea" how the deal is progressing.

Sources have told ESPN FC that Manchester United are still confident of landing Perisic and Sky Sports reported on Tuesday morning that an agreement for the Croatia winger is close.

Inter forward Stevan Jovetic, meanwhile, is reported to be close to a move to Sevilla, where he spent time on loan last season, but Ausilio told Sportitalia: "Jovetic and Perisic are Inter players and, at the moment, they are not going anywhere."

Perisic is set to travel to China with the rest of the Inter squad on Tuesday if United cannot make a breakthrough in their negotiations with the Italian side.

Mourinho, asked for an update on the transfer after United's 2-1 friendly win at Real Salt Lake, said: "No idea. No idea, my friend. No idea."

Walter Sabatini, the technical director of Inter's owners the Suning Group, stressed after a meeting with Ausilio and coach Luciano Spalletti that Inter are determined to improve the squad after finishing seventh in Serie A last season.

Inter have so far been left behind in the market by city rivals AC Milan but Sabatini told Sportitalia: "We're going to do everything possible -- the best we possibly can on the transfer market.

"We're certainly going to sign some new players to integrate into the current squad, which must not be discarded because there are some really good players in it.

"I know what I am doing, as I always have in my life. I'm working with a great group, an extraordinary coach and a strong club. We will do what we have to do without following Milan, because they are not our model.

"We compliment them, but we are continuing down our own path."

Inter have signed only Milan Skriniar from Sampdoria and Borja Valero from Fiorentina so far this summer, but their vice-president Javier Zanetti told TyC Sports: "We want to make our squad competitive in view of next season, with the objective of returning to the Champions League.

"Our idea is to sign players who are functional in the style of play of our new coach, who is a great coach with a lot of experience. The new signings have got to increase the level of the current squad."

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