Manchester United have announced that Zlatan Ibrahimovic has re-signed with the club.

There had been a growing expectation that the Swede would remain at Old Trafford and now it’s official.

‘Manchester United is delighted to announce that Zlatan Ibrahimovic will continue his journey with the club and has signed a one-year contract,’ the club said in a statement. ‘He will wear the number 10 shirt.’

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While Ibrahimovic extending his stay will delight fans, there is a slight problem – they’ve replaced him.

After he suffered a serious injury at the back end of last season it was clear he wouldn’t play again until Christmas at the earliest. Quite understandably, Jose Mourinho went out and signed Romelu Lukaku for £75million. The 23-year-old Belgian even took the No.9 shirt.

Lukaku has made a fantastic start to his Manchester United career, scoring three goals in two Premier League games (Getty)

So how will the two fit in the side when Ibrahimovic returns to fitness? Here are some options for Mourinho…

Option 1…

When Ibrahimovic returns he could push Lukaku out wide, with Marcus Rashford making way. There is no way the 35-year-old is taking on a wide role, so it’d have to be his eventual heir who does. Manchester United might shoot themselves in the foot by doing this though, considering Lukaku’s exceptional start (four goals in three games) to the season in the central position.

Option 2…

 

Mourinho could opt to play Lukaku and Ibrahimovic alongside each other by switching to a 4-4-2 formation. That would mean someone having to make way – possibly Mata with Anthony Martial and Henrikh Mkhitaryan the more obvious wide options.

Option 3…

Alternatively, Mourinho could sacrifice a defender instead of a midfielder, switching to a 3-5-2 formation. Phil Jones would be the most likely to be culled.

Option 4…

It’s quite possible Mourinho doesn’t see the need to find a way to merge Lukaku and Ibrahimovic into one team – it might be a case of using one or the other. Last season, due to United’s excellent runs in the cups, they had a ton of additional games. If that is the case again (as they very much hope it will be) the duo could rotate in the centre-forward role.

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