Zlatan Ibrahimovic expected to sign for United

Swedish striker could finalise deal before the start of Euro 2016 next week

Sweden’s forward and team captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic is close to finalising a deal with Manchester United. Photo: Getty Images
Sweden’s forward and team captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic is close to finalising a deal with Manchester United. Photo: Getty Images

Sweden captain and record scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic may be allowed to leave the squad's Euro 2016 training camp to sign for Manchester United, coach Erik Hamren said on Saturday.

The 34-year-old, who is available on a free transfer after leaving Paris St Germain, has been strongly linked in media reports to a reunion with former coach Jose Mourinho, who was named manager of the Premier League side last week.

“We have days off. We plan our activities and the players can act based on that,” a mildly irritated Hamren told reporters on Saturday. “I’m not going to speculate about such things.”

Ibrahimovic sat out Tuesday’s drab goalless draw with Slovenia to rest a sore calf, but will start in Sweden’s final pre-Euro 2016 friendly against Wales in Stockholm on Sunday.

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The Swedes have named a strong starting team to face the Welsh and Hamren plans to use all six substitutions to get a good look at his fringe players.

“My idea is that as many as possible would get game time,” he said.

“That won’t be the case for the goalkeepers, but otherwise it is my hope that everyone will have some minutes in their legs before we go to France.”

Sweden kick off their Group E campaign against the Republic of Ireland in Paris on June 13th before facing Italy and Belgium.