Is Ivan Perisic for Mousa Dembele a good deal for Tottenham?

Should Tottenham entertain a deal that would see Mousa Dembele go to Inter Milan with Ivan Perisic coming the other way? 

Inter Milan are in hot pursuit of Dembele, who, with a year left on his contract, is thought be on his way out of Tottenham in the coming weeks or months. The Belgian’s time at Spurs has been full of highs and lows, with his form on the pitch sometimes hampered by recurring injury concerns.

However, Dembele’s important to Spurs since arriving from Fulham in 2012 should not be understated. He is, on his day, one of the most impressive midfield engines in the world. When he’s on form, it’s almost impossible to dispossess the Belgian who possesses ox-like strength.

Unless Ivan Perisic is coming to Hotspur Way as part of a swap deal, Daniel Levy will not accept anything less than £20 million for Spurs’ Belgian stalwart.

It won’t be a like-for-like trade, though. Perisic either plays as a supporting striker or in an advanced midfield role, so the void in the middle of the park left by Dembele’s departure would still need to be filled.

Perisic put up some pretty impressive numbers for Inter last season. The Croatian scored 11 goals and added nine assists in 37 appearances for the Italian side. While playing second fiddle to Harry Kane probably won’t sit well with him, Perisic would add another Kane-like weapon to Tottenham’s attack. He can also play just behind Kane, offering alternative attacking options.

The 29-year-old loves to cut inside and is lethal on the counterattack. He also holds the ball up well and has an innate ability to find an important pass.

I’m not totally convinced Perisic is the type of asset Spurs currently require in their setup, but he certainly has the qualities to put Premier League defenders on the back foot. If Dembele chooses Inter as his final destination, it makes sense to bring an experienced professional like Perisic the other way.

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It will be sad to see Spurs’ engine room, their tireless workhorse, depart for pastures anew, but he’ll forever be loved on the white side of North London, no matter where he ends up.