EXCLUSIVE: Fancy Zlat? Chelsea and Manchester City offered Barcelona striker Ibrahimovic

By John Edwards
Updated: 21:15 EDT, 12 May 2010

Chelsea and Manchester City are being offered the chance to sign Zlatan Ibrahimovic in a deal that would create a new British transfer record.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta is keen to offload the Sweden striker and has reportedly recruited agent and close friend Pini Zahavi to find a buyer willing to pay in excess of £40million.

Heads up: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (right) could be heading to England

Chelsea and City have been targeted as the likeliest takers in England and are about to be sounded out, following a clear signal both clubs are looking to strengthen up front.

Chelsea are still concentrating their efforts on trying to prise £70m-rated Fernando Torres away from Liverpool and will wait to discover their prospects of landing the World Cup-bound Spain striker before considering the merits of Ibrahimovic.

Wanted: Chelsea and City want Fernando Torres

City have the funds to meet Barcelona's asking price but will carefully weigh up whether the 28-year old's occasionally sullen demeanour and fitful flair meets their requirements.

The £32.5m City paid Real Madrid for Robinho remains the record fee by a British club, but Barcelona will hold out for significantly more than that for a player they signed from Inter Milan for £40m plus Samuel Eto'o.

New Juventus president Andrea Agnelli wants to take Ibrahimovic back to Turin but is reluctant to pay more than £35m, prompting Laporta to try and guage interest levels elsewhere in Europe.

Ibrahimovic has come under fire for failing to provide a cutting edge when Barcelona needed it most, in their Champions' League semi-final return meeting with Inter at the Nou Camp.

Traling 3-1 from the first leg, Ibrahimovic could make little impression on a well-drilled Inter defence, as a belated breakthrough from defender Gerard Pique proved too little too late.

Eye-catching: Ibrahimovic has won mixed reviews during his time at Barcelona

Honorary president Johan Cruyff sprang to the defence of Barca's misfiring striker, who has scored 16 times this season, saying: 'Ibrahimovic has been instrumental in securing victories, even in the last few games. To say so lightly that this player does not work, that he is not worth it, is to have a short memory.'

But Laporta has set his sights on David Villa and wants to free up space in his starting line-up, as well as generate the necessary funds, to press ahead with a move for the Valencia frontrunner, who has also been linked with Chelsea.