Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Manchester City are still maintaining close contact with Barcelona over Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic , keeping the possibility of a move on the table.

On paper, Ibrahimovic enjoyed a good first season in Spain, scoring 20 goals in 41 appearances for Barcelona since his high profile move from Inter Milan last summer. However, his performances were criticised by the notoriously harsh Spanish media, and his Barcelona appearances may now be limited following the arrival of David Villa at the Nou Camp.

Both the player and Nou Camp boss Pep Guardiola had given the impression that Ibrahimovic is staying at Barcelona , but rumours of a move have recently resurfaced.  Now, Spanish daily ‘Mundo Deportivo’ claims that Ibrahimovic would like to move to AC Milan, who are also keeping an eye on the situation, but that Manchester City , as the club “with the most money to cope with a deal of this calibre at any moment’, would be the most likely destination if the striker does move.

Roberto Mancini has already significantly added to the Manchester City squad this summer by signing the likes of David Villa and Yaya Toure .  However, he is also hoping to land a striker but with the deal to bring Inter Milan’s Mario Balotelli to Eastlands apparently stalled over his wages, a move for Ibrahimovic could again be a possibility.