As the biggest name to arrive in the Premier League last summer, there was signicant hype surrounding new Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic among Fantasy Football communities.
He went on to enjoy a successful season at Old Trafford, scoring 28 goals in all competitions as Jose Mourinho’s side won both the Capital One Cup and the UEFA Europa League.
And while Spurs’ Harry Kane and Everton’s Romelu Lukaku were the stand-out options among the forwards across the Fantasy games, Ibrahimovic sees off Chelsea’s Diego Costa to claim the final spot in our Team of the Season.
The Statistics
Handed an initial price tag of 11.5 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), Ibrahimovic was selected by 1,270,022 managers heading into Gameweek 1.
That figure reflected the fact the forward polarised opinion during pre-season, but a goal and maximum bonus points in the 3-1 win over Bournemouth quickly silenced any doubters.
He then registered a brace in the 2-0 victory against Southampton, with his 13-point haul forcing many who had gone without the Swede up to that point to alter their plans.
By Gameweek 5, Ibrahimovic was owned by over 2,400,000 FPL managers, with his price reaching a season-high of 11.9.
That early-season form was to prove a false dawn though, with the United striker blanking in five consecutive matches between Gameweeks 6 and 10.
By the time Mourinho’s men travelled to Swansea City in Gameweek 11, Ibrahimovic’s price had dropped to 11.1 and he’d lost over 1,100,000 owners along the way.
But that trip to south Wales proved to be a turning point, with Ibrahimovic scoring twice in a 3-1 victory.
Further goals followed against West Ham United and Everton before the former Paris St-Germain forward embarked on his best run of form between Gameweeks 16 and 18.
Over those three matches, he produced four goals, three assists and eight bonus to total 38 points in FPL.
Ibrahimovic’s price returned to its peak of 11.7, but he would never reach those heights again despite remaining a consistent point scorer – he registered a goal or an assist in five of his next seven starts.
His season was dramatically derailed during the 1-1 draw against Bournemouth in Gameweek 27.
He returned a Gameweek score of -1 after missing a penalty and picking up a yellow card, and he was then handed a retrospective three-match ban for clashing with Cherries defender Tyrone Mings.
Ibrahimovic did return from suspension to score twice and register an assist in his next two appearances, but his season was cruelly brought to a premature end after suffering cruciate knee ligament damage against Anderlecht in the Europa League.
He concluded the FPL season with 163 points, ranking him sixth among forwards, although he averaged 5.8 points per match, which was bettered only by Kane (7.5), Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus (6.7) and Lukaku (6.0).
Despite only playing 28 matches, Ibrahimovic placed second among FPL forwards for shots with 115, averaging a chance every 21.2 minutes.
He also shone as a creator, with no other forward managing more key passes than his 47, seven of which led to assists.
The Prospects
It was confirmed last Friday that United have released Ibrahimovic following the end of his one-year deal, deciding against taking up the option of a second year.
His departure leaves only Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Wayne Rooney as the senior strikers currently on the books at Old Trafford.
After a brilliant performance in the 2-0 win over Chelsea and some important goals in United’s Europa League success, Rashford currently looks the primary option heading into next season, although a new signing in this position is surely inevitable.
Used mainly out wide during the first half of the season, Rashford enough flashes of brilliance in Ibrahimovic’s absence but would again seem destined to surrender the central striker role to a new signing.
Martial did play some matches in the lone striker role following Ibrahimovic’s season-ending injury, but it remains to be seen whether his long-term future will be as a centre forward or back out wide.
Rooney, meanwhile, has fallen down the pecking order, with his future at the club looking uncertain.
The skipper has been linked with a move away with just one year left on his current deal, although his wage demands could mean he sees out the rest of his contract as a bit-part player.
Mourinho is certain to bring in at least one big-name forward, with a deal to acquire Real Madrid hitman Alvaro Morata to the club reportedly in progress.
There are suggestions that personal terms have already been agreed with the player, leaving only a fee to be negotiated between the two clubs. The player’s agent has also confirmed that an “important offer” has been made to Madrid by United with reports today stating that a deal is close.
The Spanish international produced 15 goals and five assists in 26 league outings last season, despite being a bit-part player, and has plenty of experience having also enjoyed a two-year spell at Juventus.
United have also been heavily linked with a move for Torino striker Andrea Belotti, with some speculation suggesting Mourinho is keen to sign both players.
The 23-year-old Italian registered a hugely impressive 26 goals and eight assists in 35 league appearances last season in a side that was only able to finish ninth in Serie A.
Both players underlying statistics from 2016/17 are pretty similar, with Belotti averaging a shot every 23.6 minutes, slightly superior to Morata (24.3).
They both fell slightly short of Ibrahimovic’s mark of a chance every 21.2 minutes, but in Belotti’s case, he would certainly be part of a side creating a lot more chances than he is used to at Torino, while an increase in starts for Morata should also boost his numbers.
Fantasy managers will be taking a keen eye on United’s activity and pre-season matches to try and establish the pecking order among the United forwards, but while Morata and Belotti are both talented individuals and boast huge potential, they’ll do well to adapt to English football as quickly as Ibrahimovic did.
Even with those doubts, today’s publication of the 2017/18 fixtures gave us reason to increase our interest in United’s assets. Jose Mourinho’s side avoid all of last season’s top six over the opening six Gameweeks and arguably have the smoothest opening of any of the likely title contenders.
