While the world was reacting to Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s unsurprising admission that he will join Manchester United, the club were busy trying to cover up a transfer blunder of their own after appearing to confirm Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s move from Borussia Dortmund without the deal being completed.

United’s interest in 27-year-old Mkhitaryan has been no secret, with Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke confirming this week that the Premier League club had made an improved offer, thought to be between £26m and £35m depending on bonuses and incentives.

But while United are yet to make any official announcement after sending an official to Germany to try and complete the deal, the official club shop started to sell United shirts for the 2016/17 season with the option of Mkhitaryan on the back, raising suspicions that the deal was already done.

Sky Deutschland initially picked up on the sudden change, but the option was quickly removed and no announcement was made on any transfer business – Mkhitaryan or Ibrahimovic related.

The initial £26.3m deal is expected to go through for Mkhitaryan to move to Old Trafford within the next week though, with reports suggesting that a deal has already been agreed over personal terms and a medical is scheduled for the coming days.

United put up shirts with Mkhitaryan's name on up for sale before quickly deleting them (www.manutd.com)

The Armenia international has just one year remaining on his Dortmund contract, but he rejected an offer to extend his stay at the Signal Iduna Park and both he and his agent, Mino Raiola, have been vocal in their desire to seek out a new club and structure a summer move.

Jose Mourinho's Manchester United hit list Show all 9 1 /9 Jose Mourinho's Manchester United hit list Jose Mourinho's Manchester United hit list Juan Mata The Spaniard perhaps has most to worry about from Mourinho’s appointment, having been sold to United by the Portuguese in 2014, but while Mata lacks the pace and physical strength to become a key man under Mourinho, his knack of scoring goals in big games may yet play in his favour.

Survival rating: 6/10 Getty Jose Mourinho's Manchester United hit list Marcos Rojo The Argentine defender has endured an injury-hit time at Old Trafford since arriving from Sporting Lisbon two years ago. While Rojo possesses the physical attributes of a typical Mourinho defender, his poor concentration ensures his days will be numbered.

Survival rating: 3/10 Getty Jose Mourinho's Manchester United hit list Ander Herrera The £28.8m midfielder is under threat with Mourinho because he lacks a defined role and has struggled to make an impact during two seasons at United. Does not do enough to influence games and could be offloaded this summer.

Survival rating: 4/10 Getty Jose Mourinho's Manchester United hit list Daley Blind The Dutch defender became a key man under Louis van Gaal, impressing at centre-half last season having also played in midfield and at full-back. Blind may lose his centre-back position under Mourinho, but his versatility will earn him a stay of execution.

Survival rating: 8/10 Getty Jose Mourinho's Manchester United hit list Phil Jones Once regarded as a future England centre-half, but Jones has endured an injury nightmare at Old Trafford. But Mourinho likes to build his teams around a core of domestic players and Jones may yet be given the chance to prove himself for that reason.

Survival rating: 6/10 Getty Jose Mourinho's Manchester United hit list Bastian Schweinsteiger The Germany captain was a major disappointment last season having arrived to great fanfare from Bayern Munich. A Van Gaal loyalist, Schweinsteiger may find life too demanding under Mourinho and he appears an obvious candidate to be moved on.

Survival rating: 2/10 Getty Jose Mourinho's Manchester United hit list Marouane Fellaini Fellaini divides opinion at Old Trafford, with many regarding the Belgian as typifying the worst of Van Gaal’s reign, but he is effective and Mourinho is likely to regarded the former Everton midfielder as a useful Plan B, particularly with his physical presence.

Survival rating: 7/10 Reuters Jose Mourinho's Manchester United hit list Memphis Depay Mourinho turned Arjen Robben into a star during his first spell at Chelsea and Depay arrived at United with a reputation as Holland’s successor to the Bayern Munich winger. He had a disastrous first season, though, and needs to improve his attitude to survive under Mourinho.

Survival rating: 5/10 Getty Jose Mourinho's Manchester United hit list Adnan Januzaj Januzaj became a forgotten man under Van Gaal, but United still believe the Belgian can become a world-class talent. He will be forced to accept Mourinho’s tough approach, but it worked for Joe Cole at Chelsea and Januzaj could yet salvage his United career under the Special One.

Survival rating: 6/10 Getty

Ibrahimovic meanwhile could complete his move to United as early as Friday after revealing on Thursday via social media that his next destination will be United, as has been widely reported. Ibrahimovic is also represented by Raiola, who has endured lengthy talks with United regarding both Mkhitaryan and Ibrahimovic and has also held discussions with the club over the future of Paul Pogba, as revealed by The Independent.

Writing on Instagram, Ibrahimovic said: “Time to let the world know. My next destination is @manchesterunited #iamcoming.”

The Swedish striker, who retired from international football after Sweden’s Euro 2016 group stage exit, will reunite with manager Jose Mourinho after working with the Portuguese at Inter Milan, and he will be tasked with improving United’s threat in front of goal after they struggled last season to find the back of the net, resulting in Louis van Gaal’s side missing out on the Champions League and subsequently getting the Dutchman the sack.

Summer 2016 Transfer Window - Done deals and rumours

The forward has agreed a 12-month contract with United with the option of an extra year on wages in the region of £220,000-a-week, and should he and Mkhitaryan complete their moves to Old Trafford, they will take Mourinho’s summer recruitment drive to three new players after the club signed defender Eric Bailly last month.