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Zlatan Ibrahimovic is back.
Settle down now.
He was brilliant for United last season - scoring 17 league goals as he hammered in 28 goals (in all competitions) in just 46 games - As ever, the charismatic Swede did the announcing himself - in typically brilliant fashion - and the news of him wearing no. 10 for Manchester United has set many a heart aflutter at Old Trafford.
This does, though, pose an interesting tactical riddle for his manager Jose Mourinho to solve. As much as the Swede said that there's no need for Lukaku to worry - is there a way for a manager to play both the players together?
We try to single out the different combinations the 'Special One' could employ:
#5. The simple switcheroo
You know the one where you ask your on-fire, 24-year-old, £75 million striker to sit out in favour of a 35-year-old returning from a long injury lay-off. This would entail United going backwards in time to the 2016/17 season where Ibrahimovic was the sharp end of a rather dull stick that despite creating chances couldn't finish many teams.
Also known as the one that is least likely to happen.
Likelihood: 1/10
Likelihood with Zlatan coming on as a sub: 8/10 (imagine the defender's state of mind - off trots Lukaku, on comes Zlatan!)
#4. Throwback to the 90s
One way to fit both strikers in would be to go take a trip back to the glorious '90s and return Manchester United and the world of football to the halcyon days of 4-4-2. This would, of course, necessitate dropping Rashford or Martial further back down and would entail pushing Mkhitaryan out wide - or the reintroduction of Jesse Lingard into the fold.
Or it would necessitate switching to a back three in a 3-5-2, with Valencia, Shaw, Lingard or Damian acting as the wingbacks who'd provide service to the two towers up top.
SAS has got nothing on LAZ!
Likelihood: 4/10
Likelihood with Zlatan coming on as a sub: 9/10
P.S. For those not in the know - SAS was one of the most fearsome big man-big man combination that the game has ever seen... Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton; they won Blackburn the league title in 1995.
#3. Wideman Romelu
If United were to play both together, one of the more likely scenarios would see Mourinho switch to his favourite 4-3-3 formation with Romelu Lukaku pushed out the wide right. In any case, the Belgian's natural inclination is to drift toward the right and cut into the box - and Mourinho could use this as a ploy - as deploying Ander Herrara as Right Central Midfielder would also enable Mourinho to ensure that Valencia has protection on his side.
This could especially work against sides that sit deep and don't offer much of an offensive threat.
However, in all likelihood, he'll pass this option along because Lukaku is most comfortable in an out-and-out striker position and could be a little lost out wide.
Likelihood: 4/10
Likelihood with Zlatan coming on as a sub: 7/10
#2. Eat your hearts out RAF
The Royal Air Force may rule the skies of Britannia at the moment, but if Mourinho decides "bugger all" and channel the spirit of his great friend Tony Pulis, he just could line up Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Romelu Lukaku, and Marouane Fellaini in an attacking trio that would be Arsene Wenger's worst nightmare from hell.
Against sides that are traditionally weak in the air, the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool for example, this could be a terrifyingly effective option - especially if both Ibrahimovic and Fellaini are thrown on as subs.
Likelihood: 2/10
Likelihood with Zlatan coming on as a sub: 8/10
#1. The trequartista
We have always viewed Zlatan Ibrahimovic as the most traditional of no. 9s but what he has shown over the years is that he has a passing range - and a first touch - that can rival any trequartista in the business.
In the traditional no.10 position, Mourinho could ensure he sticks to his 4-2-3-1 position with the like of Lukaku, Pogba, Rashford (and/or Martial) retaining the positions they are best at. If Mourinho has to start both his strikers this might well be the best way to go about it.
Likelihood: 5/10 - most likely if he starts
Likelihood with Zlatan coming on as a sub: 9/10
