ROM’S SWEDE DREAM
DIAMOND FIRES OUT WARNING TO RIVALS /PAGE 39
ROMELU Lukaku insists he is happy United have re-signed Zlatan Ibrahimovic, despite the competition the Swede could pose.
Lukaku inherited Ibrahimovic’s No.9 shirt after he completed his transfer from Everton before Ibrahimovic received the No. 10 formerly worn by Wayne Rooney.
Ibrahimovic joked last week he never left United and had just ‘upgraded my number’ CITY will resurrect their pursuit of Alexis Sanchez when he becomes a free agent next summer.
Pep Guardiola has not given up on landing the Arsenal striker – despite seeing a £60m deadline day deal collapse.
City could yet launch a fresh bid in January – but their preference is to wait until the end of the season when his contract at the Emirates expires and they can get him for free.
Sanchez will become one of the mostwanted players in Europe next summer and will be free to negotiate with teams abroad from January.
That could prompt City to go in with a reduced bid in the New Year – but the and he is set to vie with Lukaku for the striker’s spot once he returns from injury.
“I already knew for a while that Zlatan would sign but I didn’t tell anyone,” Lukaku said after scoring a hat-trick for Belgium in their 9-0 World Cup qualifying win over Gibraltar in Liege.
“I’m happy. We need his personality.”
Jose Mourinho does not expect Ibrahimovic to be available until January feeling within the Etihad is that they are prepared to wait after a summer of protracted negotiations with the Gunners.
Guardiola has spent more than £200m overhauling his squad in a bid to turn City into Premier League champions in his second season in charge – but is not expected to carry out such extensive rebuilding work in future windows. but spoke about the possibility of him and Lukaku playing together last week.
He said: “I see Zlatan as important for the team.
“I just say that my squad is better for sure, he is one more option, he is one more striker, he is one more experienced player, he is one more player that can play nine or 10, that can play double strikers or no, there are lots of matches to play.”
United special: Pages 45-47
Picking up Sanchez on a free would be a significant boost in a summer when City will look to address the centre of defence.
Sanchez was desperate to head to the Etihad during this window – and City hope he will still be keen to reunite with Guardiola in 12 months.
If they get the impression he is considering other options in January, they could be tempted to move sooner.