Manchester United Transfer News: Top Stars, Latest Rumours Linked to Red Devils

Manchester United are reportedly preparing to do battle with AC Milan for the signing of Paris Saint-Germain’s mercurial forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic this summer.

The 34-year-old scored a goal and grabbed an assist in PSG’s 2-1 UEFA Champions League triumph over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in midweek, and according to French outlet L’Equipe, United are interested in bringing him to England permanently—via Aaron Flanagan of the Daily Mirror.

However, the Swedish international is being touted all over Europe, and Flanagan’s report stated his former club AC Milan are just as keen to take Ibrahimovic back to the San Siro.

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United’s 2-0 defeat to Liverpool in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday demonstrated their desperate need for a world-class forward.

Anthony Martial has proved his worth on several occasions, but Louis van Gaal’s men are lacking the kind of explosive striker who can turn a game on its head in an instant.

Ibrahimovic undoubtedly fits that bill, but at 34 years of age, is he still cut out for the top of the domestic game?

In short, yes.

As per WhoScored.com, Ibrahimovic has scored 23 goals and created 10 more in Ligue 1 so far this season, proving as lethal as ever in and around the box. Here’s a reminder of what the striker can do:

And the man himself is confident he can cut it in the Premier League, too. Speaking with the Daily Mirror, Ibrahimovic remained coy on his future, but when asked if he could cope in the top flight of English football, he was never in doubt.

"I have another three months here and then what will happen? Big things will happen," he said. "Let's see what happens. Let's just say I am in shape for it [the Premier League]."

The 34-year-old certainly showed at Stamford Bridge he’s not ready to hang up the boots just yet, and he could be an ideal short-term solution to United’s goal-shy problems. His movement and finish to eliminate Chelsea were sublime, as Gary Lineker revealed:

It’ll be up to Ibrahimovic himself as to where he plays his football next term, and according to the Daily Telegraph (via Lee Astley of the Sun), he already has a destination in mind: Arsenal.

Astley’s report does, however, state that Jose Mourinho being in charge of Manchester United could be enough for him to choose Old Trafford over the Emirates Stadium.

From one striker potentially heading to Manchester to one who isn’t now, as Borussia Dortmund’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has reportedly agreed to move to Real Madrid.

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That’s according to Spanish newspaper AS, which said the Gabon international has always dreamed of playing for Real and will now seize his chance—via George Bellshaw of Metro.

However, Manchester United still have some hope, as Bellshaw writes that Madrid are yet to agree a fee with Dortmund for Aubameyang’s services.

If Zinedine Zidane and Co. can’t come to terms with Dortmund’s demands, then Manchester United can swoop.

Champions League football is looking a distant dream for United next term, with their Premier League and Europa League campaigns seemingly petering out into nothingness.

That means attracting the best players in the business could prove difficult, so the United powers-that-be need to set out their stall early and try to get some deals over the line.