Manchester United are preparing a new contract offer for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, which could see him once again star at Old Trafford.

Sources close to the Swede are remaining coy on his long-term future, but the 35-year-old is on course to be fit again before the end of the year following a knee ligament injury.

He has officially left United after his initial one-year contract expired at the end of the season – but he is firmly still part of the club, and is using their Carrington training HQ as part of his his rehab.

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The belief is that Ibrahimovic could be ready to play by December, if not earlier, and he is a free agent – United, or any other Premier League club, could sign him outside the window.

Now Jose Mourinho has admitted that re-signing Ibrahimovic is an option.

“We spent big money on a striker because, with strikers, you either spend or you don’t get,” the United boss said.

“And we spent because of what happened to Zlatan and we cannot allow ourselves to be without an important, strong striker for the first six months of the season.”

Major League Soccer have targeted Ibrahimovic and want one of their LA teams to take him – The Galaxy and newly created Los Angeles Football Club, and he has held talks with them.

However, Ibrahimovic is very happy with United and sources believe the chances of him finishing the season with United are high.

Indeed Bookmakers are currently favouring United, and are odds-on that he will be back at Old Trafford.

Ladbrokes News’ Dave Burin said: “The odds suggest United fans haven’t seen the last of Zlatan at Old Trafford, though the lure of the States could still take him away from Manchester.”

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