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Zlatan Ibrahimovic: The Best Free Transfer Available This Summer?

By Nicholas Kitonyi
Published on: 07:35 PST, Feb 21, 2016

Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be a free agent in July if his current club, Paris St. Germain, “PSG,” fails to get him to sign a contract extension. The Swedish striker is currently the leading scorer in France’s League One football competition and has already knocked in 23 goals in 21 league matches. The 34-year-old’s better days may appear to be gone, judging by the age, but when you look at his performances and goals/per game ratio, then you would wonder why PSG haven’t convinced him to sign a new deal yet.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has kept Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani on the bench for the better part of this season, and does not look ready to relinquish his place in the starting line-up at PSG. The 6 ft 5 inches tall striker has bagged 30 goals in 34 games this season, and yesterday, he scored two goals and assisted two during the 4-1 win over Reims in the French League one.

Since the start of the new season, there has been a lot of speculation surrounding Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s next club with Premier League clubs being linked the most. However, Ibrahimovic has maintained that he is currently very happy at PSG, despite his contract already running out at the end of the current season. Zlatan has won every major domestic trophy available in France, but has failed to achieve the same on the continental level.

In a recent interview following PSG’s 4-1 win over Remis, PSG captain and team-mate to Zlatan Ibrahimovic was asked about the striker’s targets for the season and the decision he is likely to take at the end of the season. The Brazilian defender told L’Equipe [in French] “We’ll see what he does at the end of the season, but in my opinion, he can stay because he could still play with us. I think he wants to stay. If he wins the Champions League this season, his opinion will probably be different.”

Zlatan Ibrahimovic would easily slot in any team in the premier league next season and Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea are among the teams tipped to win his signature in the summer. However, the highly-opined Swedish striker told ESPN FC last summer that his next move will be a huge surprise. He has also failed to rule out a move to the MLS and the Chinese Super League.

Zlatan is currently in the form of his life, and could easily go on to score the most goals in his footballing career. He is currently on 30 goals, 11 behind his record best of 41 achieved during the 2013/2014 season in all competitions, while his current tally of 23 in the league is just 7 shy of his best return of 30 achieved in 2012/2013 season.

Ibrahimovic currently has an 8.24 rating on football stats and player rating platform WhoScored, which is his best rating since the platform began rating players in the 2009/2010 season. If Zlatan signs a new contract at PSG, it will likely be a major deal for a short period, given his age. However, should he choose to move on at the end of the season, then his destination club would have pulled a master stroke especially given Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s current performance ratings, goals, and assists for the season.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has not won the FIFA Balon d’Or despite his obvious talent and achievements. However, given his heroics this season, the classy striker might yet win it to become the oldest player to win the precious individual award. Nonetheless, a lot will hinge on how the team performs in the UEFA Champions League because winning the European Clubs’ elite competition seems to be a major boost for nominees.

Currently, there are 18 games to go in the French League One, while PSG is still in the UEFA Champions League. Zlatan Ibrahimovic is set to end the season with his highest goals tally yet. What a bargain Zlatan Ibrahimovic could be at the end of the season.

[Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images]

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