Ibracadabra – Zlatan Looks to be heading to the Premier League

Ibracadabra – Zlatan Looks to be heading to the Premier League

With his contract almost expired at French champions Paris Saint-Germain, Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has given the strongest hint yet that he is about to hop across the channel and continue his career in the Premier League.

COULD MOURINHO AND ZLATAN BE A MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN AT OLD TRAFFORD?

With it now looking certain that Jose Mourinho will replace Louis van Gaal at Manchester United this summer, speculation has increased that the 34-year-old frontman may opt to join his old boss from his days at Inter Milan at Old Trafford next season. Mourinho was reportedly about to launch a bid for the player in January, before his highly publicised departure from Stamford Bridge in December. Ibrahimovic had a devastating spell in front of goal under the tutelage of the “Special One” and in a recent interview gave his biggest hint yet that he may opt for the Theatre of Dreams next season declaring that; “Big things will happen” when his time in the French capital expires. The best football betting sites also think that he will opt to join the red-half of Manchester, currently quoting odds of *3.00 for this to be his next destination.

SIGNING IBRAHIMOVIC MAKES COMMERCIAL SENSE

Despite being in the autumn of his career, bringing in a player like Ibrahimovic, with his charisma and occasional off-the-wall behaviour, would represent good business in the commercial world and with Manchester United posting record profits last year, despite a less than successful season, a marquee signing like this would generate a huge turnover in shirt sales. As a free-agent, Ibrahimovic would arrive on a free transfer and despite his demands for a signing on fee plus a salary of around £200,000 a week; it could be a relatively small outlay for such huge returns.

A MOVE TO THE MLS IN 2018 ALSO IN THE PIPELINE

Whoever takes the big Swede in the summer will only have a limited time to get the most out of him, with the player reportedly having already agreed a deal with his friend David Beckham to join his Miami Major League Soccer franchise in 2018. The pair became pals during Beckham’s short spell in the French capital before he headed out to the US. It’s also believed that the owners of PSG will invest in the club when it launches in two years’ time.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE STILL MISSING FROM HIS PALMARES

In a trophy laden career in which he has won 10 league championships with five different clubs, there is one prize still missing from the list; the Champions League. With his PSG side now certain to retain their Ligue 1 crown, the focus can turn 100% to European club football’s biggest prize. With a narrow 2-1 lead to protect against Chelsea in West London in a couple of weeks’ time, the best sports betting sites will give you odds of **1.36 for them to get to the quarter-finals, an astonishing **251.00 for them to give Ibrahimovic the perfect send-off by winning the trophy in May.

ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC FACT-FILE

Senior club career:

                           1999-2001 Malmo (appearances 40 goals 16)

2001-2004 Ajax (appearances 74 goals 35)

2004-2006 Juventus (appearances 70 goals 23)

2006-2009 Inter (appearances 88 goals 57)

2009-2011 Barcelona (appearances 29 goals 16)

2010-2011 Milan loan (appearances 29 goals 14)

2011-2012 Milan (appearances 32 goals 28)

2012 –present PSG (appearances 112 goals 98)

International career:

                             1999 Sweden U18 (appearances 4 goals 1)

2001 Sweden U21 (appearances 7 goals 6)

2001-present Sweden national team (appearances 111 goals 62)

*odds courtesy of Unibet

**odds courtesy of Bet365

By: Steve Mitchell