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Zlatan Ibra |
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been released by Manchester United, according to the Premier League.
The 35-year-old, who is out of contract this summer and recovering from a serious knee injury, was not on United’s list of retained players when it was published on Friday.
The former Sweden international now looks set to officially leave Old Trafford when his current deal expires on June 30.
Ibrahimovic scored 28 goals in 46 games last season following his free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain last summer, but a knee ligament injury suffered against Anderlecht in April threw his long-term future into doubt.
And with no prospect of the striker playing again until January at the earliest, United have decided against triggering an option to keep the ex-Barcelona and Juventus man for another year.
Jose Mourinho is already trying to sign a replacement for last season’s top scorer — cooling his interest in Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann in favour of pursing out-and-out strikers Alvaro Morata at Real Madrid and Andrea Belotti at Torino.
Romelu Lukaku is expected to join Chelsea if they can agree a fee with Everton after Diego Costa revealed he is surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge.
Morata, who scored 20 goals in 43 games at the Bernabeu last season, is seen as Mourinho’s preferred choice.
And there were reports in Spain on Friday that he has told the Champions League holders he wants to leave this summer.
United are still trying to negotiate a fee for the 24-year-old, who could cost as much as £60 million just 12 months after Real Madrid triggered a £26.3m buy-back option to re-sign the Spaniard from Juventus.
Ibrahimovic’s agent, Mino Raiola, has insisted his client wants to stay in Europe, although he has been linked with the LA Galaxy.
He could be fit start the 2018 MLS campaign his recovery from knee surgery continues to go smoothly.
Josh Harrop, who scored on his senior debut against Crystal Palace on the final day of the season, United States youth international Matthew Olosunde and Matty Willock have all been made offers to remain at Old Trafford.
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