“I don’t believe they can change the Eiffel Tower for my statue, even the people behind the club.

“But if they can, I will stay here — I promise you.”

This was a tongue in cheek comment from the one and only Zlatan Ibrahimovic, in response to a question asking if he was going to remain with Paris Saint-Germain beyond the end of the current campaign.

Many have viewed these Zlatan quotes as a prelude to a final recital in Paris and that he will indeed say au revoir to PSG and Ligue 1 this summer.

But this season has showed us that Ibra isn’t a washed up thirty-four year old.

In fact the Swede has excelled during this term, scoring thirty-five goals in thirty-six appearances for ‘Les Rouge-et-Bleu’. He has also created fourteen assists for the Parisiens.

Before we all try and slate the French league (which isn’t a bad league), it should be remembered that he has four goals in eight Champions League games this term. That includes two goals against English Premier League champions Chelsea that saw PSG reach this years quarter final.

Ironically could Zlatan now be about to join the Blues of London?

Well it looks as though Italian national manager Antonio Conte will takeover at Stamford Bridge after Euro 2016 this summer.

That managerial appointment  could mean a squad overhaul at Chelsea with star players Diego Costa and Eden Hazard already being linked with moves away from the club as they won’t be playing in the Champions League next year.

Conte was a known admirer of the Swedish international forward and supposedly tried to get him to return to Juventus back in 2013. The Italian coach likes the warrior type footballer who gives everything to win for the team!

Bringing in Ibrahimovic would add experience to the frontline, much needed if Costa departs in the next transfer window. Also look at Chelsea’s biggest failings this term, they struggled to cope when Diego Costa was out and need better central attacking options.

Plus it looks increasingly likely that veteran club captain John Terry is leaving the Bridge as his contract runs out on June. So Conte could be looking at bringing in a new dressing room leader.

The thought of playing in the English Premier League has always been alluring to Zlatan. He’s won the league titles in Italy, Spain, France and the Netherlands, so a chance at adding the Premier League crown to his medal collection would be appealing.

Speculation has it that Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is ready to offer the hitman a two year deal worth around £9m a season.

Now many are left scratching their heads at that kind of offer for a player in his mid-thirties. It’s not seen as long-term planning. But Abramovich’s Chelsea regime always reverts back to short-term thinking when the squad struggles. They chop and change their manager and splash cash on players who they believe can turn things around straight away.

It would obviously be a huge gamble but if Zlatan Ibrahimovic can haul this Chelsea side back into England’s top four then he’d become a Chelsea hero and the Blues would again show that they can cope without long-term thinking.

 

Posted on March 15th, 2016 by scott
Filed under: Article