Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s return to Manchester United close as Adidas sell new strip with his name on the back
Eric Bailly sends message to Ibrahimovic as United return moves so close official kit suppliers Adidas are selling his expected No10 jersey
ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC'S return to Manchester United is so close kit suppliers Adidas have already started flogging shirts with his name on.
Ibrahimovic is currently in talks with United over signing a season-long deal to re-join the club as he closes in on a return from knee surgery.
And the club's official kit suppliers are so certain the Swedish striker is going to be a Red again they are selling his personalised No10 shirt to fans.
Ibrahimovic wore the No9 shirt last season but that has been taken by Romelu Lukaku this year - and the ten is still vacant following the departure of Wayne Rooney.
Adidas are only making the Ibrahimovic shirt available to buy on their American site - but it is another major hint that a contract is imminent.
United boss Jose Mourinho admitted on the eve of the new season that negotiations were at an advanced stage.
And the 35-year-old's own rehabilitation has gone so well it has now been claimed an announcement over his return could even be made this week.
United's players are now convinced they will be linking up again with the striker, with defender Eric Bailly sending him a message on social media.
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Ibrahimovic had posted a video of himself kick-boxing, and Bailly replied: "Hope you're almost ready to return @Ibra_Official, I'll be right here."
His return to Old Trafford will cap a remarkable turnaround for the striker, who looked to have played his last game for the club when he suffered a knee ligament injury in April.
Ibrahimovic travelled to Miami for surgery and the early prognosis was he would not be fit enough to return to action until January.
But he has healed far quicker than expected and earlier in the summer his return date was brought forward to October.
That helped convince United boss Mourinho that it would be worth handing Ibrahimovic another deal with the club, with his attacking options still limited to just three players.
Romelu Lukaku, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial are the only senior forwards in the United squad, and Mourinho knows he needs other options to cover the demands of the domestic and European seasons.
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