Manchester United: Latest on Barcelona’s Neymar; Attacking duo expected to sign today!

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Welcome to Friday if you are a Manchester United fan, and to what could be a very exciting next 24 hours at Old Trafford. Will July 1st signalling the first day of the summer transfer window, supporters of the 20-time champions will be watching with anticipation, in the hope that the club announce not one, but two, signings to kick-off the Jose Mourinho era in style.

Yesterday, Zlatan Ibrahimovic all but confirmed he would be joining the club this summer, with posts on Instagram and Twitter that the Red Devils faithful will have absolutely loved. The Swedish striker posted a picture of the Manchester United crest, confirming his switch with the following caption: “Time to let the world know. My next destination is @manchesterunited”.

Ibrahimovic, capped 116 times for his country, was out of contract after four years at the French champions. His impending move will see him link up again with his former Inter Milan boss Jose Mourinho – a partnership that a select majority of United fans are already comparing to that of Sir Alex Ferguson and Eric Cantona. However, it must be acknowledged that most are withholding the right to reserve judgement.

Ibrahimovic arrives with a huge reputation and an even greater ego, but question remarks will remain over his ability to adapt to the Premier League, especially at the age of 34. He has scored 392 goals in 677 games and last season for Paris Saint Germain was his most prolific. Nonetheless, Radamel Falcao’s recent failings have proven English football is a different beast – and this is a challenge Ibrahimovic will also find himself faced with.

Meanwhile, the club inadvertently announced the signing of Borussia Dortmund’s Henrik Mkhitaryan, which suggests he could soon be joining Ibrahimovic. Indeed, the Red Devils appear to be advertising shirts with the Armenian international’s name on the back on their club store – a blunder that was jumped on by a number of supporters as a sign that a deal is close.

Dortmund had previously rejected two offers from United for the player, whose contract expires next summer, and whom Dortmund had insisted would be seeing out his final year at the Westfalenstadion. However, it is believed that the German outfit have eventually accepted a fee in the region of £33million – £14million more than United’s opening offer for the Bundesliga’s most creative player last season.

Finally, the news we were all waiting for, Barcelona striker Neymar has taken to social media to confirm he will be extending his contract at the Nou Camp. The Brazil international had been touted, just yesterday by Mundo Deportivo, as the first real ‘marquee’ signing of Jose Mourinho’s era at Old Trafford – as if the arrival of Zlatan Ibrahimovic is not high profile enough!? However, this is now unlikely to be the case.