Daily Mail

Sanchez is a chilly star... but Zlatan eyes LA sun

- By JACK GAUGHAN

ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVI­C is already preparing for life after Manchester United by looking at houses in Beverly Hills. LA Galaxy are tipped to sign the 36-yearold striker, whose one-year contract at United ends this summer, and members of his family have been looking at homes in preparatio­n for a possible move. Ibrahimovi­c has not played since Boxing Day when boss Jose Mourinho withdrew him at half-time during a 2-2 draw with Burnley, raising doubts over his fitness. The Swede, who suffered a cruciate ligament injury last April, is believed to be close to another comeback after long-term rehabilita­tion. Sources say he is fit enough to have an impact on United’s campaign, insisting the club’s progress in the Champions League is an important aspect of his final year at Old Trafford. United were concerned that Ibrahimovi­c (right) had rushed his first comeback in November but Galaxy still hope to make him the highest-paid player in MLS history. The MLS season begins on March 3 and coach Sigi Schmid said: ‘If it happens, it happens. Once it happens then we’ll give it thought. ‘He’s a big player. Big players have an impact on your team, whether that’s Zlatan or whether that’s Lionel Messi or Neymar — guys like that have an impact but until it happens, I’m not going to worry about it.’ While Ibrahimovi­c was perhaps looking ahead to some California sunshine, he joined his United team-mates for a work-out in near-freezing temperatur­es at the Aon Training Complex. Chile striker Alexis Sanchez, who has arrived at United to shoulder the scoring burden in Ibrahimovi­c’s absence, was among the players donning woolly hats and gloves as they prepared for Saturday’s FA Cup fifth-round clash at Huddersfie­ld.

 ?? GETTY IMAGES ?? Frozen north: United’s Alexis Sanchez is barely recognisab­le in hat and gloves as he trains in the sleet yesterday
GETTY IMAGES Frozen north: United’s Alexis Sanchez is barely recognisab­le in hat and gloves as he trains in the sleet yesterday
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