Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has confirmed that the club are in discussions with Zlatan Ibrahimovic over a possible comeback this season. The big Swede bagged 28 goals in 46 appearances last season before he sustained a cruciate knee injury in April.
As a result, the Red Devils opted against the one-year extension on his £375,000-a-week deal, but he has been allowed to use the training facilities in Carrington for his rehabilitation.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the West Ham United clash, Mourinho admits that the club are not in a state of urgency to re-sign the 35-year-old, but talks are underway to recruit the marksman for the second half of the campaign.
“He is injured, he needs time to recover, he’s not ready to play tomorrow. It’s not something urgent, that we are desperate to get it done or not done,” he is quoted as saying by Goal.com.
“I just think that he was very clear by showing what he did last year, it was not enough for him. He thinks he can do more and he wants more at football’s highest level. So we are having conversations and we are discussing the possibility of staying with us for the second part of the season.”
United have brought in a top-class striker in Romelu Lukaku to fill Ibrahimovic’s void, and the Belgian will be expected to make an instant impression given his valuable experience playing in the top-flight.
The 24-year-old ended the previous campaign as the Premier League’s second-highest scorer with 25 goals, and a similar tally should be achievable at Old Trafford with the vast array of creative talent around him.
Manchester United were held to a 1-1 scoreline by West Ham United during their last league meeting at home, but Mourinho will want to avoid a repeat when they host the Hammers in the opener on Sunday.
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