Fresh off news that United are nearing their deal with Ibrahimovic, Mourinho’s new club could already be planning for life after the Swede. The club has reportedly made two approaches for Lionel Messi in the past three weeks in an effort to find out whether the Barcelona superstar would entertain a move to Old Trafford in the future.
The Mail claims United are realistic enough to admit they would not be able to prise Messi from Barca this summer and will wait until they are able to offer Champions League football, hopefully ahead of the 2017-18 season, by which time the Argentina international could be in the final year of his contract.
United, who have been linked with ambitious moves for Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Neymar in recent years, would be required to break the world record transfer fee (reported to be €100m) that Real Madrid paid Tottenham for Bale in 2013 if they were to secure Messi’s services.
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