The Top Flight
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Premier League: Starting XI of potential free agents after this season

By Craig Pearson

Manchester United's Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic gestures during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Stoke City at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on October 2, 2016. / AFP / Scott Heppell / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read SCOTT HEPPELL/AFP/Getty Images)
Manchester United's Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic gestures during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Stoke City at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on October 2, 2016. / AFP / Scott Heppell / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read SCOTT HEPPELL/AFP/Getty Images) /
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GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN – AUGUST 07: Yaya Toure of Manchester City during the Pre-Season Friendly between Arsenal and Manchester City at Ullevi on August 7, 2016 in Gothenburg, Sweden. (Photo by Nils Petter Nilsson/Ombrello/Getty Images)
GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN – AUGUST 07: Yaya Toure of Manchester City during the Pre-Season Friendly between Arsenal and Manchester City at Ullevi on August 7, 2016 in Gothenburg, Sweden. (Photo by Nils Petter Nilsson/Ombrello/Getty Images) /

Number 10 and Striker

Yaya Toure, remember him? The Ivorian is firmly in the background at Manchester City right now. Partly due to his physical decline and partly due to his blabbermouth agent. But in the background he is, nonetheless.

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Toure’s contract ends in the summer and he now looks certain to leave City, given the current circumstances anyway. The midfielder still has technical ability. His passing range is still vast. It’s only the physical side of his game that is rapidly declining.

Toure will find a club once he leaves City. His dire work rate does need accounting for, however, and that’s why he’s playing a free role behind a lone striker in this team. And that lone striker is Zlatan Ibrahimovich.

The Swede only joined Manchester United a few months ago, but he also only signed a one-year deal with the Red Devils. Ibrahimovich started his United career on fire, but has dimmed slightly in recent games.

United’s first four Premier League games saw Zlatan score four goals. But since then United have played six games in all competitions and Ibrahimovich has netted just once. Now 35 years old, Ibrahimovich in his final years at the highest level.

But will it be just one year at Manchester United or more?

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