Zlatan Ibrahimovic Confirms Manchester United Contract Extension Negotiations

Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has confirmed he is in talks with the Old Trafford club about extending his contract past the end of the 2016-17 season.

The Swedish forward only signed a one-year contract when he moved to United from Paris Saint-Germain last summer, and the striker has been linked with a potential switch to Napoli or LA Galaxy, but Ibrahimovic has revealed he is in negotiations about staying longer in Manchester, per the Manchester Evening News (via Iain Strachan of Goal):

"

Let's see what happens, we are talking. I have an option for another year, I want to do great as long as I'm here, so let us see, there is a lot of time. I'm enjoying being at a fantastic club, without doubt, one of the biggest clubs in the world, with a great coach. I know [Jose Mourinho] before, he's a winner, he's the perfect coach for this club.

"

He added: "Being a Manchester United player, I don't know how many people have that possibility, but I am a Man United player, people wanted me here, I chose the club, I chose the best English club, that's the way it works."

Ibrahimovic, 35, has been one of United's key players in 2016-17 as he has netted 26 goals in 41 appearances in all competitions, per WhoScored.com.

His return of 15 goals in the Premier League in 2016-17 dwarfs the next best tally from a United player, which is Juan Mata with six.

Player	Apps	Mins	Goals	Assists
Zlatan Ibrahimovic	25	2250	15	4
Juan Mata	16(6)	1396	6	3
Paul Pogba	25	2250	4	3
Anthony Martial	11(5)	892	3	4
Henrikh Mkhitaryan	10(5)	889	3	1
Marcus Rashford	11(11)	1155	3	1
Wayne Rooney	9(9)	996	2	5

Despite his age, it is clear Ibrahimovic has not lost any of his goalscoring touch, and he has already become an influential figure at Old Trafford.

United need to make future plans about who will be their first-choice No. 9 in the long term, and they have been linked with Monaco's Kylian Mbappe, per Cadena COPE (via James Benson in the Daily Star).

But Ibrahimovic still has the quality to be a major asset at Old Trafford for at least another season, and Mourinho will surely be eager that the former Barcelona and Ajax man is still in his side next term.

Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

The likes of Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford are talented and have shown glimpses that they could be superstars of the future.

But they do not yet offer the consistency that Ibrahimovic all but guarantees having netted goals in almost every major European league for the best part of the last 15 years. 

As a talismanic presence, he is vital to the continued improvement of the current United squad, and Red Devils fans will be pleased to hear there are ongoing talks about keeping him at the club longer.

However, speculation will persist about Ibrahimovic potentially departing United until he is confirmed as having put pen to paper on a new deal.