Manchester United round-up: Ibrahimovic could sign this month; three way race for Draxler; Mourinho backs Martial

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Manchester United are set to make at least one more summer signing as the Daily Mail report that Zlatan Ibrahimovic is likely to agree a new contract at Old Trafford before the end of the month. The 35-year-old’s contract expired in the summer with no new agreement as he continues his rehabilitation from a knee ligament injury.

The Swede will now face a substantial wage cut from his first contract in Manchester, but he will still play a key role in the squad. His experience could be crucial, particularly in helping younger players like Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford to develop and learn from one of football’s most decorated players.

He could be joined by another signing in the form of Julian Draxler from Paris Saint-Germain. The Mirror say that having missed out on Inter Milan winger Ivan Perisic, Jose Mourinho is considering the German or Thomas Lemar from Monaco. Draxler would be available at just £32 million, compared to the £50 million price tag for Lemar.

Arsenal and Liverpool are also interested in the former Wolfsburg man who joined PSG for £40 million only eight months ago, but the Ligue Un club are desperate to sell in order to avoid punishment from UEFA over Financial Fair Play having spent almost £200 million on Neymar earlier this summer.

He could compete with French forward Anthony Martial for a spot on the left flank, but it seems increasingly likely that he will be going nowhere. Speaking before this weekend’s fixture against Swansea City, manager Jose Mourinho expressed his belief in the winger as he is quoted by the London Evening Standard as saying:

“I have faith in him. Probably the player that I was looking for was not a pure winger… The player I was looking for is a player that allows me to play with three in the back and do the wing-back. Because as a pure attacking player, Anthony is a good player. I believe he’s one of the players that is going to have a better season this season than the previous season. I believe.”

Martial made an impressive contribution once again on Saturday as he recorded his second goal in as many games this season despite coming off of the bench in both ties against West Ham and Swansea City.