Zlatan Ibrahimovic could well join a Premier League club in this summer’s transfer window. The Paris Saint-Germain frontman will not sign a new contract with the French side, despite their best efforts, and it looks as though, finally, the Sweden international might grace a team on our shores with his presence.
The 6ft. 5″ Swede has scored goals wherever he’s been, and despite being 34, he shows no signs of slowing – he’s scored 107 goals in 118 appearances in his four years in the French capital. ‘Ibra’ will be available on a free at the end of this season and will be hoping to attract potential suitors when he captains his national side at EURO 2016.
He’s being linked with a new Premier League side almost every day and with the clock ticking down towards the opening of the transfer window, FootballFanCast takes a look at whose colours we might be seeing Zlatan in, in the near future…
Chelsea
Could Zlatan be headed to the Bridge? Chelsea could do with an extra forward as Diego Costa is being extensively linked with a move back to Atletico Madrid and Alexandre Pato is only on loan at the club, so his future remains uncertain. As for Loic Remy, he is a useful impact sub but won’t score enough goals to fire Chelsea back into title contention. There’s also Bertrand Traore, who has a lot expected of him but is bereft of Premier League experience, so Ibrahimovic could be the answer to Chelsea’s potential goalscoring headaches.
Manchester United
First Chelsea, now Manchester United. United have struggled to find the back of the net all season. Wayne Rooney looks like he’ll be plying his trade as a ‘No.10’ now for the Red Devils, and whilst the emergence of Marcus Rashford has been good news for the Old Trafford crowd, they surely can’t be content with the team relying on him as their main source of goals. The way Man United’s squad is set up, a big name is needed to lead the line and they don’t come much bigger than ‘Ibra’. He’d relish the chance to be United’s latest hero and the challenge of finally regaining the Premier League title for the club.
Arsenal
Speaking of clubs that need a world class striker, we have Arsenal. Arsene Wenger had the chance to sign Ibrahimovic when he was breaking through, but turned him down, yet perhaps it’ll come full circle with Zlatan finally joining the Gunners. Olivier Giroud looks like a world beater on his day, but that day doesn’t come often enough. There’d be no hiding from ‘Ibra’ who could finally answer Wenger and his dwindling number of fans’ prayers. It remains to be seen if Wenger is even at the club next year, but in the likely event he is, getting the big Swede in may just appease his critics.
Manchester City
Sergio Aguero and Zlatan Ibrahimovic could be one of the most potent strike forces this country has seen for a long time, but will it happen under Pep Guardiola? It’s a pretty well known fact the two do not see eye to eye. Zlatan spent two seasons under Pep at Barcelona, the second of which he was sent out on loan to AC Milan. You’d think time apart has allowed for the two to defrost their relationship, but this doesn’t seem to have happened. Ibrahimovic labelled the inbound City coach as “not a man” in the Telegraph only last year.
Anywhere else?
Where else could Zlatan pitch up next term? It’s unlikely Spurs will want him given they have a youthful squad, meanwhile the way Liverpool play under Klopp is unlikely to offer a spot for the striker. Champions in waiting Leicester have the pull of Champions League football next year, but could they afford his wages? The other possible destination is West Ham, who with their new stadium are clearly ambitious, and the prospect of ‘Ibra’ and Andy Carroll up top for the Hammers would make for interesting viewing.
Verdict
Zlatan Ibrahimovic should head to Manchester United. The side needs a top drawer forward, proven at the highest level. The Swede and Rooney would dovetail perfectly, the fans would adore him – something he loves – and imagine how Rashford could improve looking at an example such as the former Inter man. He ticks all the right boxes for Man United and they do the same for him. United have the money, the opportunity and the squad to fully make use of Zlatan.