Manchester United Transfer News: Zlatan Ibrahimovic Move Doubted, Top Rumours
Former Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur winger David Ginola has advised Manchester United against signing Paris Saint-Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic this summer, preferring the club sticks to developing young talent.
The towering Swede is out of contract at the end of the season, and United have been linked with pursuing his signature. But Ginola doesn't rate the idea of the Old Trafford club signing so-called "mercenaries."
Speaking to talkSPORT (h/t James Whaling of the Daily Mirror), the Frenchman said: "He is reaching 35 and is probably at the end of his career. I don't think it should be an option for Louis van Gaal or whoever is in charge next season."
Instead, Ginola has urged Red Devils chief Van Gaal to stick with a philosophy of building through youth:
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It is better to build a team around the youth and what they are doing at Man United right now with Rashford, Lingard and Martial, I would rather see that.
Van Gaal has spent £200 million on players and at the moment he is relying on 18-year-old kids. What is the point [of spending that money]?
We are looking for teams and massive clubs like Man United to invest very significant amounts of money on the youth and the academy.
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Ginola wants to see a big club like United imbued with academy players proud to represent its traditions rather than big-name veterans perhaps looking for one final, lavish payday: "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."
Despite Ginola's words of warning, United still seem keen on adding Ibrahimovic to the ranks. According to French publication L'Equipe (h/t Whaling), the Reds have already made the 34-year-old an offer.
That will have to be some offer since Ibrahimovic is reported to want £600,000 per week to leave Ligue 1 for the Premier League, according to Matt Lawton of the Daily Mail. It's a staggering amount for any player despite Ibrahimovic's talent and success rate in front of goal.
But it's one United may be willing to pay, although it might not be on Van Gaal's watch. ESPN FC's Miguel Delaney has reported how potentially incoming manager Jose Mourinho has rubber-stamped the idea of acquiring PSG's attacking talisman.
Mourinho has always put more trust in established, experienced players rather than precocious youths. The inconsistencies inevitable in the development of any youngster can be a problem for clubs trusting youth, particularly a club still expected to challenge for major honours.
That danger was revealed by the dismal performance turned in by one of United's young attackers during the recent 3-0 Premier League defeat away to Tottenham Hotspur.
With Ibrahimovic leading the line, it's unlikely players such as Lingard and 18-year-old striker Marcus Rashford will feature as often.
But three seasons without the Premier League title—and maybe a second out of three without UEFA Champions League football—may be enough to convince United into ditching the promise of the future for success now.
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http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2632339-manchester-united-transfer-news-zlatan-ibrahimovic-move-doubted-top-rumours