2018 Summer Free Agent XI

Strikers

Mario Balotelli

Do not be fooled by the antics of the Italian. When on form and focused, Mario Balotelli is as devastating as any striker out there. And if you can snap him up on a free transfer, the decision is so much easier, like OGC Nice found out. The former Liverpool and City man has paid huge dividends for the French side scoring 19 goals in 25 appearances.

A grand total of 141 career goals with 32 assists in 339 matches isn't a record to scoff at. He has had success most strikers can only dream of.

Three-time top scorer in Italy and with the Euro 2012 competition, 3 Italian Championships, Premier League, FA Cup, Italian Cup and a Champion League Winner's medal to his credit, Mario Balotelli ought to be hot property at the end of the season.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Zlatan play ball. Zlatan score. Zlatan win.

Few strikers in world football are as feared as the Swede. The goalscoring machine makes football look easy. Skyhigh confidence in himself with the staggering ability to boot, Ibrahimovic has ruled world football for the past two decades.

The United Striker has played under the best managers in the world and for the best teams in the world and has always been the main man on any pitch he has walked onto.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic: #PL history maker 🦁#PLMoment @Ibra_official pic.twitter.com/4pXKBCQbn2

— Premier League (@premierleague) February 6, 2018

If somehow you aren't convinced by this pick, here are the numbers:

* 5-time league top scorer

* 11-time League Champion

* 13-time Super Cup Winner

* 12-time Footballer of the year

* 403 goals, 159 assists in 683 professional appearances

We decided to not include any players above the age of 33 in this list, a criterion keeping out the likes of Yaya Toure, Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben. But clearly, Zlatan Ibrahimovic isn't bound by restrictions that apply to us mere mortals. Also, I'm not gonna be the one to tell him he isn't on a Dream XI list, are you?

Substitute: Fernando Torres