Top 5 likely destinations for Zlatan Ibrahimovic next season

Where will Zlatan Ibrahimovic ply his trade next season?“I have another three months here and, then, what will happen? Big things will happen. So let’s see.” Only Zlatan Ibrahimovic can tease the media in such a manner and get away with it. Also read: Zlatan Ibrahimovic: Best QuotesLet’s get one thing out of the way first. Despite being 34 years old, Ibrahimovic is nowhere close to being finished or even over the hill. How else do you explain an average of over 35 goals in his last three seasons? He is well on course to maintaining that average this season too (28 goals so far) in spite of missing a few games this season due to injuries.“Let’s just say I am in good shape,” he said when asked about a possible move to the Premier League. As fans and betting companies salivate at the prospect of seeing Ibrahimovic in the flesh in the Premier League, nobody knows for sure.The Swedish striker is a free agent this summer, so he can choose where he wants to go next. So which is the best club for him?

#1 Manchester United

Ever since Louis van Gaal took over at Manchester United, there have been a number of questionable buys in attack. Apart from signing Angel Di Maria, who lasted just one season before sealing a move to Paris Saint-Germain – the club he wanted to move to in the first place – there was the loan signing of Radamel Falcao.

The Colombian striker had one of the worst seasons of his career, scoring just 4 goals. Last summer’s clear-out saw a number of forwards leave – Falcao, Robin van Persie and Javier Hernandez. The only arrivals to play up front were young Anthony Martial and the inconsistent Memphis Depay who has failed to live up to the no.7 shirt.

With Wayne Rooney now injured, United are desperate for strikers. Ibrahimovic would be the perfect replacement for any of the players who were let go. The big Swede is strong in the air and even has an eye for goal from both inside and outside the box. For a team that, of late, took ages to have shots on goal, Ibrahimovic would be the ideal no.9 to lead the line.

Of course, this means Rooney would have to drop deeper or play as a support striker. But that’s exactly what Sir Alex Ferguson did when Van Persie was signed and United won the title at a canter.

United would also be one of the few clubs who could afford his high wages. It would also be a coup for the Premier League to have his talents on display at Old Trafford on a weekly basis. While Manchester City also have the resources, don’t expect Pep Guardiola to make the mistake of signing him again.

And who’s in line to take charge at United? His old Inter boss Jose Mourinho.

#2 Liverpool

Two years ago, Ibrahimovic ran into Jurgen Klopp, then the manager at Borussia Dortmund, at the Ballon d’Or ceremony. “When are you bringing me to Dortmund?” he enquired with a smile.

“Oh please, I will have to sell the whole team,” Klopp retorted.

“No, I’ll come for free to Dortmund,” Ibrahimovic replied, jokingly saying this conversation was not one for the president of PSG to hear. But what was evident from the exchange was that he had immense respect for the German manager.

Klopp may now get his chance to sign Ibrahimovic – for free! He had mentioned him in passing when questioned about whether he had the final say on transfers, something Brendan Rodgers did not exactly have at Anfield.

Liverpool’s transfer strategy in the past few years have been based on risk rather than long-term planning. Their new signings either make an immediate impact or fail miserably. One of those failed transfers was Christian Benteke.

After having spent £32.5m to sign him from Aston Villa, he is now on the verge of losing his place in the squad after failing to adapt to Klopp’s tactics. The Belgian may have the same physique as Ibrahimovic, but his quality on the ball and his confidence are nowhere close to the Swedish striker’s skills.

The only stumbling block for the Reds is the lack of Champions League football. Klopp’s side are nine points away from the coveted fourth spot. But Ibrahimovic had recently said that even Qatar was an option after PSG.

So if he feels he has a few more years left in him, he could enjoy a season or two of Premier League football before getting that last big paycheck in the middle-east or the MLS in the United States.

#3 Chelsea

One other Premier League club who could afford to keep Ibrahimovic on their books is Chelsea. The rest would not be willing to take a gamble on a striker who may take some time to adapt to the rigorous and demanding fixture calendar England offers.

Chelsea’s future is currently unclear. The Blues’ slump under Jose Mourinho in the first half of the season has cost them dearly and they are now at the risk of going a season without Champions League football. 14 points from fourth place and one foot out of the Champions League leaves the club in limbo.

Guus Hiddink’s reign will also end in May after he steps down from his post as interim manager. While many managers in Europe are linked with the hot seat at Stamford Bridge, two names stand out – Diego Simeone and Massimiliano Allegri.

Allegri is a manager Ibrahimovic has worked with at Milan. They won the league title together in the 2010/11 season before Juventus started their era of dominance. Allegri has now overseen Juve’s rise in Europe, even reaching the Champions League final last season.

Diego Costa is currently the club’s main striker but is injury prone. Without him, the Blues are ineffective in attack. Loic Remy does his bit now and then but cannot be relied upon for an entire season. And why Mourinho signed the ghost of Falcao is anybody’s guess.

Ibrahimovic may or may not play for a club that is not in the Champions League. If he does not, Chelsea tick every other box with respect to a squad capable of challenging for titles and offering high wages. And he would not mind trading the city of Paris for London either.

#4 AC Milan

“I am grateful to Milan. They are the best club I have ever played for, and I have played for a lot of important teams.”

Ibrahimovic had said this last year when he was linked with the San Siro club. The Swedish striker was close to leaving PSG in the summer of 2015 but could not come to an agreement to return to Serie A.

He has a connection with Milan and always speaks fondly of the club and the fans. After initially joining the club on loan from Barcelona in 2010, he made a permanent move the next season. Ibrahimovic was at his peak between 2011 and 2014 and that second year at Milan saw him net 35 goals, 28 of which came in the league. While the Rossoneri eventually finished second to a resurgent Juventus, he was still the top goal scorer in Italy.

“I have always said Italy is my second home as I have always been happy there. If it had been up to me I would have never left.”

After a slow and painful rebuilding phase following the retirement and exits of several players, Milan are slowly on the ascendency. They are sixth in Serie A and six points away from sealing a Champions League spot.

A young squad where the most senior outfield players are defenders Philippe Mexes and Alex, the team could do with a senior figure who could provide leadership on the pitch. While Carlos Bacca has provided the team with goals up front, his strike partner M'Baye Niang has failed to live up to expectations placed on his young shoulders. And Mario Balotelli only performs if he puts his mind to it.

Ibrahimovic and Bacca up front, however, would form a deadly partnership. And with Silvio Berlusconi adamant that he will never sell the club, bringing back Ibrahimovic would go some way in appeasing the fans who want change and some clarity over the future and direction of the historic club.

#5 Paris Saint-Germain

Everyone knows Ibrahimovic has been one of the most successful nomads in European football. The striker has played for the likes of Ajax, Juventus, Barcelona and the two clubs from Milan and found success wherever he has played.

A serial winner of league titles, he looks all set to win the 13th league title of his career – his fourth consecutive title with PSG (they have a 24-point lead at the top with 12 games to play). PSG dominate Ligue 1 and the French domestic scene but are still trying to make their mark in Europe.

In the past three years, they have been dumped out of the Champions League in the quarter-final stage. If they don’t go all the way this season, Ibrahimovic will still have one dream unfulfilled – winning the Champions League. In fact, he is one of the few legends of the game never to win the biggest trophy in club football.

It will be up to Laurent Blanc to convince him to stay another year and finish what they started after their Qatari owners invested so much in the club to make it one of the biggest in Europe. With Ibrahimovic starting ahead of Edinson Cavani, there is no question as to who the main alpha dog at PSG is.

Ibrahimovic has won close to 30 trophies in his career but is yet to win the ‘Big Ears’. After Ajax, PSG is the only other club where he has settled down and spent four seasons. So winning it with a club that gave him so much during his stay in Paris would be one way of signing off with a bang.