8 Biggest Sunderland Rumours That Never Happened

3. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Sunderland Striker

Yes, you're reading this correctly. Sunderland almost signed Zlatan Ibrahimovic before he made it to the big time. The Swedish megastar was just 20 and plying his trade for Ajax when Sunderland came calling. With Niall Quinn beginning to decline, Peter Reid was interested in snapping up a dominant replacement.

In recent years, Reid stated: "When he was at Ajax, I went to Amsterdam and offered £7m for him," Reid told the Daily Star. "It was the second time I tried to take him to Sunderland. "We were also in for him when he was at Malmo." Back in the day, Ibrahimovic was said to be pondering the move but added that: "It's Sunderland and one other club, but for me, there are only two clubs in England - Arsenal and United. It would be an honour to play for one of them."