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Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Manchester United: Jose Mourinho unveiling could delay transfer announcement

Ibrahimovic is out of contract with PSG from Thursday and is free to announce a move to any club

Jack de Menezes

Thursday 30 June 2016 10:37 BST

Zlatan Ibrahimovic could be confirmed as a Manchester United player within the next week (Getty)

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is about to become a free agent as his contract with Paris Saint-Germain expires, with his move to Manchester United set to be confirmed in the next week.

The 34-year-old leaves PSG after four years and four Ligue 1 titles, with his next move set to be a maiden season in the Premier League. Talks have already taken place between United, Ibrahimovic and his agent Mino Raiola over a one-year deal with the option for a second, and the Sweden international is expected to receive around £220,000-a-week in wages after reaching an agreement.

However, Ibrahimovic’s move was held up due to a loyalty clause in his contract, which meant that he would have missed out on the best part of £2m if he signed a contract with a club before his PSG deal expired. Given his deal with the French league champions is up on Thursday, United are free to press on with negotiations and complete a deal to sign the global superstar.

There could yet be one more delay to the announcement of the deal though. While Ibrahimovic is free to announce his move from Friday, United may wish to hold off until they have officially unveiled their new manager, Jose Mourinho, with the Portuguese’s unveiling scheduled to happen early next week.

Announcing a signing of the stature that Ibrahimovic’s arrival will represent could overshadow Mourinho’s unveiling, and the club could instead choose to hold off making the striker’s move public until the fanfare surrounding the former Chelsea manager has died down.

Who might Mourinho try to sign at Man Utd?

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1/11Who might Mourinho try to sign at Man Utd?

Who might Mourinho try to sign at Man Utd?

John Stones

Mourinho's admiration for the Everton defender is well known with the Portuguese coach understood to have been behind Chelsea's bids for the England international last summer. Everton refused to relent back then but an offer of even more money from Manchester United might be too tempting to turn down.

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Who might Mourinho try to sign at Man Utd?

Cesc Fabregas

Fabregas was understood to be on Manchester United's radar when he left Barcelona for Chelsea and the Spain international is of the quality that would improve United's current squad. Despite the reports that the former Arsenal player was among those who forced Mourinho out at Stamford Bridge, he was one of the few to speak publicly in glowing terms of Mourinho. "Thank you for all you have done for me," he wrote on Twitter. "I owe you a lot and we will all miss you. Good luck in the future."

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Who might Mourinho try to sign at Man Utd?

Gareth Bale

Manchester United hold a long-term interest in Bale and Mourinho's arrival will only strengthen their determination to sign the Wales international. It's been suggested that the Real Madrid forward has been put off moving to Old Trafford due to the uncertainty surrounding the club, but the appointment of Mourinho would go a long way to dispelling fears that Manchester United are a club in flux.

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Who might Mourinho try to sign at Man Utd?

Alvaro Morata

Alvaro Morata has caught the eye of Arsenal, Chelsea and United, but the appointment of Mourinho as manager could give the Manchester club the advantage. Any move for Morata is likely to involve Real Madrid, and Mourinho's good relationship with his former club would help smooth over negotiations.

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Who might Mourinho try to sign at Man Utd?

Raphael Varane

Manchester United spent much of last summer pursuing Sergio Ramos, but a repeat attempt to sign the Real Madrid centre-back appears highly unlikely if Mourinho takes charge due to their tempestuous relationship during their shared time at the Bernabeu. A move for Ramos' fellow centre-back Varane does seem plausible though, with Mourinho signing the defender from Lens and giving him his opportunity at Real Madrid.

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Who might Mourinho try to sign at Man Utd?

Paul Pogba

Who doesn't want Paul Pogba? Despite claims the midfielder will move to Barcelona in the summer, nothing has been confirmed and while that remains the case the France international will continue to be linked with big-money moves elsewhere, including a return to Manchester United. Chelsea reportedly made a huge bid for the 22-year-old last summer, confirming that Mourinho is a fan.

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Who might Mourinho try to sign at Man Utd?

Andre Gomes

The Valencia midfielder emerged on United's radar before Mourinho was linked with the club, but he appears to be a fan of the 22-year-old. One problem will be Valencia's valuation, which currently sits in excess of £40m.

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Who might Mourinho try to sign at Man Utd?

Luka Modric

Mourinho revealed that he tried to sign Modric for Chelsea in 2014, confirming that a reunion with the player he worked with at Real Madrid appeals. It was Mourinho who signed the Croatian from Tottenham in 2012 and with the 30-year-old still operating at the top level on a consistent basis, he would certainly have something to offer Manchester United.

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Who might Mourinho try to sign at Man Utd?

Joao Mario

Joao Mario is wanted by Mourinho after the Sporting Lisbon midfielder impressed his compatriot. Valued at around £27m, the 23-year-old would be an expensive acquisition for United, but he could follow in the footsteps of Cristiano Ronaldo in heading to Old Trafford from the Portuguese club.

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Who might Mourinho try to sign at Man Utd?

Ezequiel Garay

Garay worked under Mourinho at Real Madrid, but while he is being linked with a move to United, it's uncertain if he would be considered a first-team starter. Garay was sold by Mourinho to Benfica in 2011, having failed to impress the Portuguese, and he could be brought in to try and add the defensive depth that United are clearly lacking.

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Who might Mourinho try to sign at Man Utd?

Mauro Icardi

The Inter Milan captain has reiterated his commitment to the Italian side, but offers are still expected to be made for the 23-year-old with both United and Arsenal linked with the striker as well as Chelsea.

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Ibrahimovic is set to become United’s second signing since Mourinho replaced Louis van Gaal – who was sacked at the end of last season after United missed out on Champions League qualification – with the £30m acquisition of defender Eric Bailly already confirmed.

United also retain serious interest in Borussia Dortmund midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who continues to push for a summer transfer as he enters the final 12 months of his contract. Mkhitaryan has attracted interest from Arsenal as well as United, but Mourinho signed off on an improved offer for the Armenia international, reported to be in the region of £26m to £35m depending on performance-based add-ons.

Summer 2016 Transfer Window - Done deals and rumours

The 27-year-old has already turned down an offer to remain at the Signal Iduna Park after rejecting a contract extension, and Dortmund’s chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke confirmed that an improved offer from United arrived this week to suggest that a move to Old Trafford is edging closer by the day.

"We have to evaluate this as we start our pre-season training on Monday, and we will do that at the weekend," he told WAZ. "The situation has changed – Manchester United improved their offer.

"In situations like this you have to see things from different points of view and in the end we will make a decision,” he added.

"I have contacted the relevant people and we will decide at the weekend. We need the opinions of different people and after that the board of directors will decide."

Mkhitaryan’s agent Raiola recently described United as his client’s “dream club” and that the deal would be done “by any means”.

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