Jose Mourinho plans Ibrahimovic, Lukaku and Antoine Griezmann attack next season

Jose Mourinho wants to sign Romelu Lukaku and Antoine Griezmann this summer and combine them with Zlatan Ibrahimovic in a front three, according to reports.

Manchester United have been strongly linked with both Lukaku and Griezmann for months, but the idea they could be used in addition to Ibrahimovic will send shudders down the spines of rival defences.

Mourinho is prepared to sanction an outlay of £160million on the pair, according to the Sun.

The outlay will be somewhat offset by removing Wayne Rooney from the books. The current Manchester United captain has accepted his time is up at Old Trafford and will move on, possibly to Everton.

Ibrahimovic’s future at Old Trafford is unclear with the Swede understood to want Champions League football next season if he remains. The report claims the club are ready to offer him a £10m deal to convince him to stay.

Ibrahimovic is expected to join LA Galaxy if United fail to qualify for the Champions League (Atletico Madrid striker Griezman could cost around £90m while Lukaku is expected to fetch £70m. Part of the lure of signing the latter is keeping the Everton striker out of Chelsea’s clutches.