Jose Mourinho is considering ­hijacking AC Milan’s attempts to ­re-sign Zlatan Ibrahimovic and bring him to Tottenham Hotspur.

The 38-year-old striker is available on a free transfer in the new year following the completion of his two-year spell at LA Galaxy.

Mourinho signed Ibrahimovic, also on a free transfer, for Manchester United in 2016, with the Swede scoring 26 goals in 46 appearances before a serious knee threatened to end his career.

Ibrahimovic left United in March 2018 but maintains a strong relationship with Mourinho, who first worked with him at Inter Milan and values his professionalism and winning mentality.

Tottenham have not replaced Fernando Llorente and, therefore, do not have an understudy to Harry Kane. It could be a role ideally suited to Ibrahimovic at this stage of his career as he returns to European football.

United have ruled out bringing Ibrahimovic back to Old Trafford and it is understood his agent, Mino Raiola, has been in contact with a number of Italian clubs, headed by Milan which was the last Serie A club he played for before joining Paris St-Germain.