IS ZLATAN READY TO QUIT UNITED?
JOSE MOURINHO will make a new target man his priority at Manchester United this summer after Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s agent admitted yesterday that the Swedish superstar may not stay at the club.
Ibrahimovic scored 28 goals in his first season at old Trafford but suffered a cruciate ligament injury in April that could keep him out of action until the start of 2018.
United are unlikely to wait that long for a player who will have turned 36 by then.
Despite his keen interest in Atletico Madrid striker Antoine Griezmann, it is understood that manager Mourinho’sourinho’s top target will be a big No 9 to replaceace Ibrahimovic.
Everton strikerr Romelu Lukaku and Real Madrid’s Alvaro Morata, who have both played under Mourinho before, fit the bill. Lukaku hass been valued at £ 100million by his club and Madrid want £65m for Morata.
United are due to hold talks with Ibrahimovic’s agent Mino Raiola, who believes the striker could yet stay at old Trafford next season if he is going to play a significant role under Mourinho again.
However, Raiola acknowledged that Ibrahimovic may have to look elsewhere and is already considering a number of offers from other clubs.
The Swede believes he can play for up to two more years at the top, and the surgeons who operated on him in Pittsburgh two months ago were happy that the surgery on his right knee went well.
Last night Ibrahimovic posted an Instagram video of himself kicking a plastic ball with both feet as part of his rehab programme.
Ibrahimovic wants to stay in Europe, and ideally the Premier League, rather than end his career in China or America, although finding a club to match the £367,640 a week he was paid at United could be difficult. He also earned a bonus of up to £143,000 per goal under the terms of his contract.
Raiola told radio station talkSPoRT: ‘He wants to stay in England and at the top. If he sees he is a valuable asset for United he will stay. But he knows he can be a valuable asset for other top clubs also.
‘I think it is respectful to talk to Manchester United and see what all parties want. There is a possibility he stays but also that he does not. We have talked, he has a lot of offers and ideas that we have to evaluate.
‘He’s had a fantastic time at United and it’s now up to us and the club to decide. We have a date for that but now is time to recover.’
Meanwhile, Griezmann reiterated yesterday that his future will be resolved soon after speaking to Atletico boss Diego Simeone and some of his team- mates. The Spanish club expect to find out today if their transfer ban has been lifted by FIFA, and it is understood that Griezmann wants reassurances over Atletico’s plans for next season before making a decision.
He said: ‘I’m fine at my club. My agents are talking with Atletico, so we’ll see what happens.
‘I’m going to make a decision this summer. As I said, I’m happy here. I’ve talked with my coach and with Koke and Diego Godin. It’s in the hands of the president. We’ll see what happens.’ EvERToN expect to finalise the signing of free agent Cuco Martina over the next 48 hours after the 27-year- old right back was released by Southampton last week. Everton manager Ronald Koeman wants cover for Seamus Coleman, who is recovering from a broken leg suffered playing for Ireland against Wales in March.