Manchester United’s Swedish superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic is reportedly unlikely to receive a contract extension from the club.

According to a report by Sky Sports, Zlatan Ibrahimovic is not expected to be offered a new contract by Manchester United this summer. The 35-year-old had agreed to a one-year contract, with only an option for second season, last summer.

Ibrahimovic is understood to prefer to remain at Old Trafford, but that is unlikely to happen now and his name will most probably now be on the club’s list of released players to be published by the Premier League on Friday.

Despite having room for an extension, United are hesitant because of the Swede’s season-ending knee ligament injury in April for which he has undergone surgery.

Prior to that, Ibrahimovic did enjoy a successful run and quickly established himself as the fiery striker that United desperately needed. He worked well with Paul Pogba and ensured that he did not let the club down at crucial times.

Before he joined the Old Trafford side, critics were doubtful about his abilities considering his age, but he has managed to shut them all down by becoming one of United’s most dependable players last season.

Time to bid adieu to Old Trafford? (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Time to bid adieu to Old Trafford? (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Ibrahimovic has made 46 appearances across competitions for United last season, scoring 28 goals, and he was a key factor in the victories that helped Jose Mourinho’s team lift the Community Shield, the League Cup and the Europa League trophy.

However, United might still have to march forward without Ibrahimovic since he is expected to fully recover well into 2018 before he can regularly play again.

As far as the business side of this is concerned, releasing last season’s top scorer would free United’s finances from paying a large salary which is rumoured to be more than £19 million ahead of the transfer window, thereby meaning they will have more funds to utilize.

United are confident to complete a deal for Real Madrid’s Alvaro Morata and James Rodriguez. If Ibrahimovic is allowed to leave, United will need to sign a new star striker and Jose Mourinho has been dabbling with a deal to sign Antoine Griezmann from Atletico Madrid.

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