Manchester United unlikely to offer Zlatan Ibrahimovic a new deal due to injury and wages but want to part with the Swede amicably

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Manchester United remain unlikely to offer Zlatan Ibrahimovic a new contract when his current deal expires later this summer and could announce his release on Friday.

The Sweden international, who is 35, suffered a cruciate ligament injury shortly before the end of the season, which is expected to rule him out until 2018.

And officials at Old Trafford have ruled out extending his current deal, given he is likely to spend a large portion of the next campaign on the sidelines.

Manchester United are unlikely to offer Zlatan Ibrahimovic an extended contract

Ibrahimovic, pictured lifting the Europa League trophy, missed the final through injury

United do want the expected parting to be amicable.

Ibrahimovic, signed on a free transfer following the expiration of his deal with Paris Saint-Germain scored 28 goals before injury struck and is a well-liked figure both in the dressing room and within the club.

He joined his team-mates when they won the Europa League Final in his native Stockholm.

That injury, as well as his wage demands, mean United are unlikely to offer a deal

However, coupled with the injury his wages – a staggering basic of £367,640-a-week - make an extension highly unlikely.

Despite the end of season and United's first team squad going on holiday or international commitments, Ibrahimovic has maintained a dedicated presence at United's Carrington training base in recent weeks.

The giant Swede has been working intensively on his rehabilitation alongside friend and trusted physio Dario Fort and intends to continue there until July when his current contract finishes. 

United remain very keen on Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata to fill the void left by Ibrahimovic’s likely departure.

But any move for the former Juventus man, 24, could be complicated by the situation of David de Gea.

United are reluctant to lose their goalkeeper and are wary of Madrid insisting the Spaniard become part of the deal for Morata.

Alvaro Morata, of Real Madrid and Spain, is a leading contender to replace Ibrahimovic

Bringing in an out-and-out striker is a priority at Old Trafford – although while interest in Atletico Madrid’s French playmaker Antoine Greizmann has cooled it may well be resurrected before the end of the transfer window.

Ibrahimovic has been linked with a move to Los Angeles FC, a new franchise in America’s MLS. LA Galaxy are also interested but have previously declined to comment on their interest.