UNITED READY TO SEAL ZLAT’S RETURN

UNITED are homing in on the re-signing of Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Reds boss Jose Mourinho has told executive vicechairman Ed Woodward that he wants the 35-year-old Swede back at Old Trafford.

It is understood United have stepped up their work on the deal but the timing of the completion is still uncertain.

The club and Ibrahimovic were set to activate his one-year option clause to stay at the end of his 12-month stint but the plans were wrecked when the forward tore his anterior cruciate knee ligament against Anderlecht last April in the Europa League quarter-final tie at Old Trafford.

Ibrahimovic vowed to return ‘even stronger’ after the injury and he’s been posting encouraging videos of his comeback trail. United defender Eric Bailly has also hinted that Ibrahimovic is close to a return to the Reds.

Mourinho has to submit his Champions League squad to UEFA at the end of the month but despite Ibrahimovic’s incredible progress it is doubtful he would be ready for match action before the group stages end in the first week of December.

But the striker could be a mid-season boost for the Reds squad.

Since Ibrahimovic’s injury, and the departure of the club’s all-time record goalscorer Wayne Rooney to Everton, Mourinho has been operating one striker lighter than last season.

Last term he had the two experienced hitmen coupled with Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial.

The Reds boss has only topped up the department with £75m Romelu Lukaku.

United special: Pages 42-44