Manchester United are close to signing Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, reports said on Friday.
Sky Sports News said Ibrahimovic’s representatives and United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward were putting the finishing touches to a one-year deal to take the 34-year-old to Old Trafford.
Ibrahimovic ended his spell at Paris St Germain after a domestic treble-winning season with the French giants, and has refused to state his next destination.
According to Sky Sports News, United hope to have the deal complete before Euro 2016 begins on June 10.
Here, we look at what five things Ibrahimovic can bring to Old Trafford.
Whatever faults he may have, Zlatan is undoubtedly a winner—at least on a domestic level. With two Eredivisie titles, six Serie A wins, one La Liga crown and four Ligue One successes, very few players in world football can match the Swede for his breadth of success across Europe.
Wherever he goes, Ibrahimovic has won titles, and Manchester United fans will doubtless hope that trend continues.
After so many years of success, United have now gone three years without a title. With a young crop of players emerging, Ibrahimovic’s attitude and desire to win can only set a good example to those around him at Carrington.
Memphis Depay and Adnan Januzaj, in particular, could learn how to pair swagger with a must-win mentality.
Managers, in general, love Ibrahimovic for the versatility he offers. With his movement, incredible technique and sizeable frame, Ibrahimovic is capable of suitng either careful build-up or direct styles of football.
There have been suggestions in the past that he encourages his side to play ‘Zlatan-ball’, where the tactic is simply to get the ball to the Swede as quickly as possible.
However, at Paris Saint-Germain, Ibrahimovic has been part of a team playing aesthetically-pleasing passing football in European competitions and was perhaps unlucky not to have advanced further in the Champions League.
83 - Only Suarez, Messi & Ronaldo have scored more goals than Zlatan Ibrahimovic in Europe's top leagues in the last three seasons. Prolific
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 4, 2016
United are fortunate to have two of the most talked about young forwards in European football on their books in Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial. Whether either are ready for a full campaign competing for silverware, though, is far from certain.
With Wayne Rooney now likely to spend much of the remainder of his career deeper rather than as a centre-forward, Jose Mourinho is doubtless keen to find a reliable goalscorer to compliment his young prospects in attack. On a short-term deal, Ibrahimovic fits the bill.
When it comes to learning their trade as a central striker, there are few better either Rashford or Martial could hope to learn from than the Malmo-produced magician.
Sky say Manchester United offered chance of Vardy, but had already decided on Ibrahimovic and didn't want to impede Rashford.
— Sport Witness (@Sport_Witness) June 3, 2016
In the Sir Alex Ferguson era at Old Trafford, United were a feared entity. There was a feeling in some games that half the battle was won before the teams had even taken to the pitch.
With the summer arrivals of Mourinho and Ibrahimovic, there will be an aura around the club once more next season which has been lacking over the past couple of years. Both are among the most feared and respected figures in the game.
If United can play with the confidence of old and release some of their talented young players to attack with freedom, the shackles of last season and Louis van Gaal should be fully cast aside. There will be worried defenders across the league if Ibrahimovic were to arrive in the weeks ahead.
There are very few players who are instantly recognisable by just their given name, but Zlatan is one.
While his team’s ‘Dare to Zlatan’ marketing campaign may have drawn some ridicule, he is undoubtedly one of the most valuable players in the world when it comes to selling merchandise.
For Manchester United—a club always associated with iconic players—he fits the bill in terms of maximising commercial revenue.
Ed Woodward would be a happy man should he sign on the dotted line.
