The FA have this afternoon confirmed that Zlatan Ibrahimovic will serve a three-match ban for violent conduct following an altercation with Tyrone Mings during Manchester United’s weekend draw against Bournemouth.
Today’s news is set to have a major effect on the Fantasy Premier League transfer market as we look for alternatives to the 34.9% owned Red Devils frontman.
Ibrahimovic will miss the upcoming FA Cup quarter-final match against Chelsea, in addition to United’s next two Premier League fixtures against Middlesbrough and West Brom, before returning to contention in time for the Gameweek 31 home encounter with Everton on Tuesday, April 4.
Devoid of a Gameweek 28 fixture as a result of that Chelsea encounter, the Swede – who has scored just once in his last five league appearances – was already the number one asset for transfers out since the weekend deadline passed.
Over 34,000 former Ibrahimmovic owners have made the move to Harry Kane – Spurs may also without a league match this weekend but they then face Southampton and Burnley while the Swede spends his enforced time on the sidelines.
Meanwhile, 31,000+ have swapped him out for Romelu Lukaku as Everton host West Brom this weekend in the first of four favourable home fixtures in six, while Swansea’s Fernando Llorente – with five goals in six – has been an automatic replacement for over 14,000 FPL managers ahead of a weekend trip to Hull.
Arguably, the lack of viable options up top for a four-match Gameweek 28 slate may somewhat limit the exodus over the next few days, yet with the likes of Diego Costa facing Stoke and Palace over Gameweek 29-30, we can expect the transfers out to intensify next week once all the big guns are back in contention.
Nonetheless, as one of just three sides with two fixtures still to be scheduled – along with Arsenal and Southampton – there’s no doubt that the Swede still has a major part to play later in the season once the double Gameweeks are finally scheduled.
