Zlatan Ibrahimovic is reportedly on the cusp of signing for Manchester United, with it being widely reported that he will announce his transfer to Old Trafford as early as Tuesday.
The Guardian reported that the Swedish striker, who left Paris Saint-Germain at the end of last season after winning the French title every season he was with the club, has already agreed personal terms with Manchester United.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic promises ‘big announcement’ on Tuesday as he edges towards Manchester United move | @Jack_Gaughan https://t.co/J1HsQQLrqr
— MailOnline Sport (@MailSport) June 5, 2016
It’s believed that Zlatan Ibrahimovic has requested £220,000 or $316,000, a week from Manchester United, while the club will also have to provide Ibrahimovic’s agent with a huge fee.
Ibrahimovic’s agent Mino Raiola has agreed to a contract with Manchester United, which matches the salary requirements that the 34-year-old had demanded. There is believed to be one more obstacle before his transfer can be confirmed, as Ibrahimovic is yet to hold talks with United’s new manager Jose Mourinho.
It’s believed that Zlatan Ibrahimovic wants to get reassurances from Jose Mourinho that he will indeed be in his first team plans at Old Trafford next season.
However, the fact that Ibrahimovic and Mourinho have previously worked together at Inter Milan, where they formed a tight bond, means that it’s unlikely the pair won’t immediately jump at the opportunity to work alongside each other again.
In fact, when he was asked about his relationship with Mourinho, Ibrahimovic gave the manager a huge amount of praise as he remarked that he “had a fantastic time with him at Inter and we said when I felt that we might work together again.”
Then, while at a press conference ahead of Sweden’s pre-Euro 2016 games, Ibrahimovic admitted that he’s been talking with Jose Mourinho on a daily basis ever since he departed Inter Milan, as he revealed, “I have spoken to Mourinho every day since I left Inter. We talk a lot.”
It’s also been reported that Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who is currently prepping with the Sweden squad ahead of Euro 2016, which they kick start with a game against the Republic of Ireland on 13 June, turned down an offer from Tottenham Hotspur, after the north London club approached the Swede about moving to White Hart Lane.
However, Ibrahimovic is believed to have told Tottenham that he is only interested in moving to Old Trafford if he does decide to move to the Premier League.
Ibrahimovic’s Manchester United move is set to be confirmed on Tuesday, as the Swede told his native television station Fotbollskanalen, via ESPN , that a “big announcement” will be made then.
Ibrahimovic added, “There will be a big announcement on the 7th. It will be this summer’s big bomb. It feels good, feels better than good. A lot will happen with this news, so hopefully you’ll all enjoy.”
Zlatan kryptisk – kommer han avslöja nya klubben på tisdag? https://t.co/1miNaENLTw
— Fotbollskanalen (@fotbollskanal) June 5, 2016
This could also be the announcement of Ibrahimovic’s new clothing line, which is due to be announced on Tuesday, too. So there is every chance that he might just be trying to play a game with the media.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic will only become available to sign for Manchester United on June 30, which is when his Paris Saint-Germain contract finally comes to an end. At the start of June, Zlatan insisted that he would only tell the world about his next destination when he becomes “tired” of the press reports.
ESPN sources have insisted though that Manchester United are going to sign a one-year contract with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who will be their first signing of what promises to be a very busy season.
[Image via Mikael Sjoberg/Ombrello /Getty Images]