LA Galaxy? Manchester United? AC Milan? The clubs in the running for Zlatan Ibrahimovic

ByEurosport

Updated 13/05/2016 at 13:05 GMT

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is leaving Ligue 1 when his contract expires at Paris Saint-Germain - but where should he go next?

Paris St Germain's Zlatan Ibrahimovic celebrates after scoring a goal

Image credit: Reuters

The 34-year-old striker has won league titles in Holland, Italy, Spain and France during a sparkling career, but could finally bring his undoubted talents to England on a short-term deal before pursuing an expected swansong in the United States in 2017.

A few months ago he hinted that he would be open to a move to England in the summer

The Sweden international, quoted in several national newspapers, said: "I have another three months here and then... what will happen? Big things will happen."

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He was then specifically asked about a move to the Premier League - and Ibrahimovic stoked the fires still further: "Let's just say I am in good shape."

Zlatan Ibrahimovic: Which direction is his future heading in?

Image credit: AFP

Ibrahimovic's career has taken him from Malmo to Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, AC Milan and PSG, so a move to the Premier League move would complete the set.

And he will certainly end up at a big club, since only a handful of teams could afford to match his reported £300,000-a-week-after-tax wages.

We took a look at the clubs he might end up playing for - and the one that he absolutely will not be joining....

LA GALAXY

Latest odds: 1/2

The latest rumours are that the MLS's most high-profile club are ready to throw almost anything at the Swede in order to bring him to California - a move which would, as ever, be partially-bankrolled by the league itself. There's no doubt that the money and lifestyle would appeal. But does Zlatan really believe he's ready to take that plunge? Or does he have one more season at the top in Europe in him?

Our best guess: This seems to all fit, but we're not as convinced as the bookies. With only a dusty space in his medal drawer where a Champions League gong ought to be, we've a feeling that the Swede might give it one more shot before heading across the Atlantic.

StubHub Center California LA Galaxy stadium MLS

Image credit: Eurosport

AC MILAN OR INTER MILAN

Latest odds on both: 2/1

Having played for both the Milanese giants in his career already, it wouldn't be hard to imagine Zlatan being happy to settle back in La Dolce Vita in the Italian city. Some of his finest hours have come in Italian football, and you could hardly blame him for wanting to return. Yet neither club will be in the Champions League next season, which will surely limit the Swede's interest as he seeks the one career medal which has so far eluded him.

Our best guess: Roberto Mancini's project trying to resurrect Inter would certainly give the striker warm, fuzzy feelings of nostalgia, but given how happy he was under the strict and highly-controlled regimes of Jose Mourinho at Inter and Laurent Blanc at PSG, we'd guess that the more chaotic approach of Mancini might not appeal. Bookies have these two clubs as favourites, but we're far from sure. Especially considering that lack of Champions League football.

FOOTBALL - 2011/2012 - Milan AC - Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Image credit: AFP

MANCHESTER UNITED

Latest odds: 4/1

Ibrahimovic enjoyed a great relationship with Jose Mourinho at Inter Milan and should the ex-Chelsea boss replace Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford it would be little surprise to see the Swede join him.

The striker has never hidden his admiration for his former boss, right down to his delight about receiving a text about his performance ahead of Mourinho's arrival in Milan.

He’s the leader of his army. But he cares, too. He would text me all the time at Inter, wondering how I was doing... Mourinho would become a guy I was basically willing to die for." - Zlatan Ibrahimovic's autobiography

United desperately need more goals and he could provide them. However, Champions League football, and its likely absence from Old Trafford next season, could be a consideration.

Our best guess: With United almost certain to miss out on Champions League qualification, this one looks unlikely regardless of that warm relationship between football's two greatest egomaniacs.

Paris Saint-Germain's Swedish midfielder Zlatan Ibrahimovic speaks with Chelsea's Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho (R) at the end of the UEFA Champions League round of 16 football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Chelsea at the Parc des Princes

Image credit: AFP

CHELSEA

Latest odds: 8/1

Any move would depend on who takes charge at Stamford Bridge. The papers reported at the start of December that Zlatan wanted to move to Chelsea in the summer, assuming that Jose Mourinho was still in charge. But his sacking threw all that into doubt, and with Antonio Conte coming in there's no reason to think that Chelsea have any special reason to land the veteran.

Will he still fancy a West London move anyway? That could prove the crucial determining factor, and with Zlatan insisting that he'll be back in Paris for a managerial role when he hangs up his boots, living a quick Eurostar trip from his pals in the French capital might appeal. Yet as with United the lack of Champions League football - or even Europa League football - makes this one seem unlikely.

Our best guess: The Blues have fallen too far, too quickly - Zlatan wants one last shot at glory, not to spearhead a resurrection.

JUVENTUS

Latest odds: 8/1

Zlatan won two titles while at Juve earlier in his career, but both were revoked due to the Calciopoli scandal. Would that mean he has unfinished business at the Turin giants? Possibly, yes. And would he not fancy a chance to join a hugely-successful team, and help them to yet another Serie A title - this time, combining it with Champions League glory?

Our best guess: Of all the Italian options, this one seems most likely - and all the more so since Juve are likely to need a replacement for potentially-outgoing players such as Pablo Dybala and Alvaro Morata.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic during his Juventus days (Reuters)

Image credit: Reuters

ARSENAL

Latest odds: 12/1

The 34-year-old was close to joining the Gunners early in his career and held talks with Arsene Wenger, admitting he felt like a little boy when he was in the Frenchman's office - though he famously refused a trial, saying later, "Zlatan doesn't do auditions."

Both men would surely be ready to let bygones be bygones if it suited them to. But while the Gunners definitely need a striker, his age would count against him: Arsenal have historically been wary of signing over 30s, and with the forward only likely to be available for 12 months the cost may outweigh the pay-off for Wenger.

Our best guess: Wenger and Zlatan will absolutely not let bygones be bygones. Wenger has shown himself willing to bring in old stagers at the twilight of their careers - Thierry Henry's return is just one example - but they're always the guys he relied upon in the past, not the ones who got away.

LIVERPOOL

Latest odds: 33/1

Jurgen Klopp would surely love to have a striker of the Swede's quality - Zlatan, unlike Liverpool's current stable of strikers, isn't prone to constant injuries and breakdowns in form. But it seems a big leap for the Reds to attract a player of his particular characteristics at this point in the latest Anfield project.

Klopp is trying to build a team over the space of a few years, and has emphatically repeated that while abandoning hope of short-term glory is painful, it's all part of the process. A 'quick fix' like bringing in a superstar on a 12-month deal would seem to fly in the face of everything that the German is trying to do. But since when do either of these two men behave as they're expected to do?

Our best guess: For all the reasons to rule this one out, we'd never bet against it for the simply fact that, well... Klopp is cool, and Zlatan will love that. He even said as much in 2014: "Jurgen Klopp is a cool guy. I like how Dortmund play very much and Klopp is a bit crazy." They'd surely make a hell of a team, and we've a sneaky suspicion that the pair might relish a stint together. Particularly if it helps Zlatan put one over Pep Guardiola's City.

MANCHESTER CITY

Latest odds: 40/1

Ibrahimovic worked with Pep Guardiola at Barcelona but their relationship turned sour with the striker calling Guardiola "a coward" in his autobiography. He has praised the Spaniard's work as a coach but has repeatedly hit out at his man-management style. And what's more, he has done so in the nastiest terms, even describing a moment when they very nearly came to blows in the dressing room.

If Mourinho lights up a room, Guardiola draws the curtains... [Guardiola] turned me into a simpler player and a worse player." - Zlatan Ibrahimovic's autobiography

While at Barcelona Ibrahimovic felt Guardiola never trusted him and that he was always behind Lionel Messi. Even though City would be one of the few to afford his wages it is unthinkable that the pair will resolve their differences to work together again when Guardiola moves to the Etihad in the summer.

Our best guess: Frankly, any bookie who takes money on this happening is effectively taking free cash from a punter who doesn't know the background.