Manchester United Transfer News: Zlatan Ibrahimovic Blow Amid PSG, Qatar Rumours

Zlatan Ibrahimovic will reportedly miss out on a move to the Premier League this summer following reports the Manchester United target could re-sign with Paris Saint-Germain before moving to Qatar in 2017.

That's according to Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport and website TransferMarketWeb (h/t Sport), which reported "it may now be the player's intention to wait a year before moving to Qatar."

Christophe Ena/Associated Press

It makes for disappointing reading as far as United fans will be concerned, just as the Old Trafford faithful were getting to grips with the idea soon-to-be free agent Ibrahimovic could join their ranks this summer.

News of interest in Ibrahimovic intensified in April when the Telegraph reported his former Inter coach, Jose Mourinho—long linked with the Red Devils managerial position—was "in contact" with the Swede regarding a reunion (h/t Daily Star's Rhys Turrell).

It seemed Ibrahimovic would leave PSG at the end of this season when his contract expires, but those plans could be altered with the emergence of cash-rich Qatar as a possible option next year.

United's interest in the player may have also been altered after PSG exited the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday following defeat to Manchester City, and OptaJean noted the striker hasn't been at his most accurate:

Even at 34 years of age, Ibrahimovic has been a force to be reckoned with in front of goal this season, leading PSG to a fourth successive Ligue 1 title and netting 39 goals in 43 appearances for the club.

However, Ibrahimovic's chances of staying at the Parc des Princes could be coming to its end after he hinted to PSG's official website he felt manager Laurent Blanc was to blame for Wednesday's 1-0 defeat (h/t Sky Sports):

"

In the first half we played with a new system and what happened, happened. If it had gone well, nobody would say anything, and now people will say we gave it away.

The second half was better, when we reverted to our normal tactics, but we gave away two games. I think we are a better team, but we lost tonight and we drew 2-2 at home, so all the best to Manchester City.

"

Those comments may suggest Ibrahimovic isn't worried about upsetting certain high-ranking officials in Paris, due in some part to the possibility he'll no longer be playing in Paris past this summer.

However, former PSG and Premier League forward David Ginola recently told talkSPORT United could be dodging a bullet by missing out on the ageing frontman (h/t Sport): "He is nearly 35 years old… probably at the end of his career. I don't want to see mercenaries in football. I want to see people who know inside out what the history of the club is all about and when you wear the shirt, you really play for them."

The Red Devils may be one of the few clubs in Europe able to compete with any contract PSG could offer, but the well-backed offers available in China and Qatar could dwarf even those.

Just when it seemed like the Premier League was to get its hands on one of the world's most celebrated players, the clutches of Qatar look set to lure Ibrahimovic's talents east instead of west.