Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Manchester United: Striker to sign in next 24 hours as United step up Paul Pogba pursuit

The 34-year-old left Paris Saint-Germain this month after lifting four domestic Ligue 1 titles

Zlatan Ibrahimovic becomes Jose Mourinho's second signing of the sumer (Getty)

Manchester United are set to complete the signing of Zlatan Ibrahimovic within the next 24 hours.

The 34-year-old, who announced his international retirement following Sweden’s Euro 2016 elimination last week, saw his Paris Saint-Germain contract expire at midnight on Thursday.

United also remain in the hunt for Borussia Dortmund playmaker Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba – both of whom are represented by Ibrahimovic’s agent Mino Raiola.

With Ibrahimovic now official a free agent, United are ready to make the former Juventus, Barcelona and Inter Milan forward their second summer signing following the capture of Villarreal defender Eric Bailly last month.

Having played in all three of Sweden’s games at France 2016, when they finished bottom of a group including Italy, Belgium and the Republic of Ireland, Ibrahimovic is expected to be put through a mini-medical by United on Friday before finalising one-year contract with the option of a further 12 months at Old Trafford.

The completion of Ibrahimovic’s move to United would see him rejoin new manager Jose Mourinho, who he worked alongside at Inter. The Swede announced he plans on joining the club on social media on Thursday afternoon.

Zlatan confirms the deal on Instagram...

A deal for Armenia international Mkhitaryan is understood to be close to completion. United, it transpires, are also selling shirts carrying his name on their official club shop website.

But Juventus are ready to hold out for a world record fee in excess of £85m for Pogba. The France international has become one of the most sought after players in Europe since leaving United in 2012 following a fall-out with Sir Alex Ferguson.

However, despite Pogba’s preference for a move to La Liga with Real Madrid or Barcelona, neither club are prepared to enter an auction with United for the 23-year-old.