Manchester United Transfer News: Juan Mata Encourages Zlatan Ibrahimovic Rumours

Juan Mata has welcomed the possibility of Zlatan Ibrahimovic moving to Manchester United this summer.

According to Sky Sports, he lavished praise on the Paris Saint-Germain striker, who will be a free agent at the end of the season: 

"

I don't know what he is going to do, whether he is going to stay there or not. Maybe he will try a new chapter in his long career.

He is probably the best in Sweden's history for what he represents. He has played in so many countries and leagues and won trophies everywhere. That speaks about his quality as a player and his importance for PSG and in the national team where he is a captain.

He is a very good player and I like to play with very good players. Every player would be happy to play with him.

"

As noted in the report, the Red Devils have been among the possible destinations touted for the 34-year-old, as they are "reportedly interested in his services."

The Swede is showing little sign of slowing down despite his advancing years and recently netted for the 35th time this season in just 40 matches.

United have struggled for goals this year, scoring just 38 in the Premier League thus far—the same as Bournemouth and fewer than nine other teams. Ibrahimovic's ruthless finishing would be a big answer to their problems in finding the net.

BT Sport pundits Rio Ferdinand, Gianluca Vialli and Glenn Hoddle praised his impact in the UEFA Champions League round-of-16 tie with Chelsea, in which he scored in the first leg and then contributed a goal and an assist in the second:

The assist was one of 16 he has produced this season, showing his ability to help his team-mates in the final third as well as take on the scoring responsibility himself.

The forward could also dramatically change the mentality and atmosphere at Old Trafford. BreatheSport revealed his incredible record of winning titles after he helped wrap up Ligue 1 earlier in March:

"

15 Seasons
291 Goals
13 League titles
6 Clubs
1 Zlatan

RT if you'd love to see this man in the Premier League... pic.twitter.com/hPh55WfGZR

— BreatheSport (@BreatheSport) March 14, 2016"

PSG may yet win two more domestic trophies and face Manchester City in the Champions League—the prospect of which is unlikely to keep Ibrahimovic up at night, per BBC Sport's John Bennett:

With such success has come the swagger and almost unrivalled desire to win that pervades Ibrahimovic's character—a mentality United held for years under Sir Alex Ferguson—and that would likely rub off on his team-mates and the fans, restoring what has been lost under David Moyes and Louis van Gaal.

Sports journalist Jonas Giaever also believes Ibrahimovic could bring back the entertainment factor—something United have also struggled to maintain in recent years:

Ibrahimovic told BT Sport Football he would not be deciding on his future until the end of the season, though:

That said, it's likely he would give a club of United's stature heavy consideration if the Red Devils do put an offer on the table for him, and the Premier League would surely appeal as one of the two major European leagues in which he is yet to play—the Bundesliga being the other but with far fewer realistic destinations.

Like Mata, the rest of United's players would likely welcome his arrival. There will be plenty of interest in him this summer, so whoever does land him will have secured a real coup.