Sweden boss Erik Hamren has dismissed the notion that Zlatan Ibrahimovic is too old for the Premier League, as the Paris Saint-Germain star plots his next move.
The 34-year-old will see his contract with the Ligue 1 champions expire this summer, which in turn has sparked plenty of speculation about his future.
With offers likely to have arrived from all over the world for the Swedish international, the Premier League appears to potentially be the most intriguing option as he could look to continue to test himself at the highest level.
While Manchester United would arguably make the most sense depending on changes made at the club, there are doubts over whether or not Ibrahimovic would be able to impress in England.
Critics were back out in force following his poor showing in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals tie with Manchester City earlier this month, with claims that he was perhaps too old to deal with the physical nature of the game in the Premier League.
Hamren has rubbished those suggestions, and believes that his star forward still has the desire and physical strength to continue to play at the top level.
“If Zlatan is motivated mentally, then he can stay at the top for several more years,” he told Reuters, as noted by Sky Sports.
“One of the things that impresses me most about Zlatan is that he always wants to get better, and that is why he has been so good for so long, improving every year, even though he’s over 30.”
Despite the fact that he is closing in on his 35th birthday, it doesn’t take away from the fact that Ibrahimovic has scored 42 goals and provided 18 assists in 46 appearances in all competitions so far this season.
PSG have achieved a domestic double with the French Cup still up for grabs, and ultimately it has been another successful year for the Swede.
Admittedly, the French and English leagues are completely different, and the level of competition in the Premier League will be a real test for Ibrahimovic if he were to make the move this summer.
Nevertheless, with the right players around him in a system that brings out the best in him, he would still flourish on the biggest of stages.
For instance, placing him at United with the likes of Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard around him to provide pace and movement would be ideal, as it would give him the freedom to build play and get in the box to continue his prolific rate of scoring.
Whether or not the Red Devils, or any other club for that matter, are willing to take the ‘gamble’ by making a 34-year-old the focal point of their team remains to be seen, but Premier League fans should embrace the possibility that such a talented player could be heading this way.