Manchester United could still offer Zlatan Ibrahimovic new contract

Posted Sunday, July 09, 2017 by ESPN

Manchester United could still offer Zlatan Ibrahimovic new contract
Former Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, 35, is currently a free agent.

The imminent signing of Romelu Lukaku would seemingly be the final nail in the coffin for Zlatan Ibrahimovic's already slim hopes of remaining at Manchester United.

But not so, according to the Mirror, with the outlet suggesting the arrival of the Belgium international could buy Jose Mourinho some time to wait out Ibra's return from a season-ending cruciate-ligament injury suffered in the Europa League.

Indeed, Ibra could instead be in line for another one-year deal that would see him return to action at the start of 2018 and provide an interesting like-for-like backup to Lukaku. Both players are big, physical strikers with proven track records as lethal finishers during their respective careers.

Could Ibrahimovic, who is progressing nicely in his rehab at United's Carrington training facility, still have a future at Old Trafford?

Meanwhile, the chump change (yes £75 million is a mere line item for United) the Red Devils spent on Lukaku won't keep them from pursuing more high-profile targets this summer, with James Rodriguez again turning up as a possible target for Mourinho.

The Independent reports that CEO Ed Woodward is "deep in talks" with the out-of-favour Real Madrid player and see James as a nice midfield option with Wayne Rooney's return to Everton almost done.