Zlatan Ibrahimovic backs AC Milan move for Manchester United target

AC Milan boss Zlatan Ibrahimovic has backed a move for RB Leipzig forward Benjamin Sesko in the hope of beating Manchester United to his signature.

The 20-year-old only moved to Leipzig last year but is already being linked with a big move away from the Bundesliga club.

The Slovenia international has scored 16 goals in all competitions in his first season since joining from Red Bull Salzburg and has attracted the attention of a number of European giants.

Manchester United have long been linked with the young forward, while Arsenal and Chelsea are both believed to be keeping an eye on his progress.

However, La Gazzetta dello Sport report that Sesko could be lured to Serie A, with AC Milan confident they can beat their Premier League rivals to sign him.

Ibrahimovic, who is now in the role of Senior Advisor to AC Milan Ownership and Senior Management, has given a move for Sesko his blessing and will help tempt the Slovenian to the San Siro.

Veteran striker Olivier Giroud is set to leave Milan at the end of the season, so they are on the lookout for a new striker and will be able to give Sesko regular first-team football.

Despite being 37, Giroud has been a first-team regular this season, making 32 league appearances and scoring 14 goals.

However, the Frenchman is off to Major League Soccer at the end of the season, joining Los Angeles FC next month.

AC Milan need to find a replacement and Ibrahimovic could play a big part in that, as Sesko has said in the past that the iconic Swede was an idol for him.

“Zlatan Ibrahimovic was my idol,” he told the Guardian. “I’m not saying I play like him, but he was having fun, having fun on the court, doing what he wanted to do. It makes me very happy to see such a player. Every video I could find, I watched it.

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