Zlatan Ibrahimovic backs AC Milan move for Manchester United target

Benjamin Sesko is wanted by some of Europe’s biggest clubs (Picture: Getty Images)

AC Milan chief Zlatan Ibrahimovic has backed a move for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, hoping to beat 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 competition in his first season since making the switch from Red Bull Salzburg and has attracted the attention of some European giants.

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

However, La Gazzetta dello Sport reports 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 a role of Senior Advisor to AC Milan Ownership and Senior Management, has given a move for Sesko his blessing and will help to tempt the Slovenian to the San Siro.

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

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is now working in an advisory role at AC Milan (Picture: Getty Images)

Despite being 37 years old, Giroud has been a regular in the first team 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 are in need of finding a replacement and Ibrahimovic may play a big role in doing just that as Sesko has said in the past that the iconic Swede has been an idol to him.

‘Zlatan Ibrahimovic was my idol,’ he told the Guardian. ‘I’m not saying I play like him but he was having fun, enjoying himself on the pitch, doing what he wanted to do. It makes me really happy when I see that kind of player. Every single video I could find, I was looking at him.’

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