Manchester United are reportedly set to rival AC Milan for Zlatan Ibrahimovic's signature when the January transfer window opens.
United are expected to target a centre-forward in the new year after struggling for goals this season - albeit they put three past Brighton on Sunday in what manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer described as their best performance of the season .
Out-of-favour Juventus striker Mario Mandzukic has been widely tipped as United's most likely option.
But the Red Devils have also been linked with a return for their former striker Ibrahimovic, who is a free agent after his spell with MLS club LA Galaxy ended.
MLS commissioner Don Graber has claimed Ibrahimovic is already on his way to another former club, AC Milan .
But Italian outlet TuttoMercatoWeb claim United are ready to battle Milan for the services of the 38-year-old Swede.
Ibrahimovic left United for LA Galaxy in 2018 and has scored 29 goals in two seasons for the MLS side.
He has been linked with a host of clubs as he aims to extend his playing career - and Graber has claimed AC Milan will be his next destination.
Graber told ESPN: "Zlatan is an interesting character. He keeps me very busy & you need this kind of players like what happened with Beckham few years ago.
"He is 38 years old & has now been signed by Milan, one of the biggest clubs in the world."
Ibrahimovic recently teased a return to Spain, posting an Instagram story claiming: "Hola Espana. I'm coming back".
But it has been claimed the post was a publicity stunt related to him becoming a brand ambassador for betting firm Bethard.
Ibrahimovic appeared to confirm his MLS career was over after LA Galaxy's play-off defeat last month.
"What happens next year? I don't know," he said. "If I stay it will be good for MLS because the whole world will watch it. If I don't stay, nobody will remember what MLS is."
