If you look at things from a neutral perspective, you can see why Zlatan Ibrahimović was only handed a one-year contract by Manchester United.
The Swedish striker has achieved a lot in his career, but at the same time, United were signing a man in his mid-30s who had never played in England before.
Oh, and they were paying him a hefty weekly wage, even if there was no transfer fee involved.
Zlatan could be on the move again https://t.co/nQXPDkXjjG
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) March 9, 2017
But the problem with a one-year deal is it gives players the opportunity to speak to other clubs before that year is up, and there will be no shortage of offers on the table for United’s top scorer.
The Swede will reportedly be the highest-paid player in Major League Soccer if he accepts a deal to join the LA Galaxy, while it would be no surprise to see other clubs flirt with the former Paris Saint-Germain striker.
However, according to Swedish journalist Daniel Kristofferson – a man who is considered well-connected when it comes to Zlatan – the 35-year-old will be at Old Trafford for at least one more year.
Writing in Expressen, Kristofferson claims Ibrahimović will extend his deal for a second year in the hope of earning a Premier League winner’s medal to go along with his honours in France, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands.
The striker is thought to prefer a two-year extension, keeping him at the club until 2019, though this is not understood to be an absolute sticking point.
His priority would be to stay on and add a Premier League title to his resume, and Kristofferson says the veteran is waiting for assurances that United will make a sustained tilt at top spot next season. Only then will he agree to stay on, but it seems like it would be a big surprise if United do not provide these assurances to the man who has scored more than twice as many league goals as any of his teammates this season.
