Tuesday 12 April 2016 06:23, UK
Sky Sports News HQ understands Zlatan Ibrahimovic has indicated a willingness to join Manchester United at the end of this season, but only if Louis van Gaal leaves the club this summer.
Ibrahimovic is out of contract at Paris St Germain at the end of this season, and is considering all of his options, with serious interest from clubs in the Premier League and Chinese Super League.
He confirmed at a press conference in March there has been interest in him from English clubs, yet Sky sources have confirmed he has reservations about joining United with the Dutchman in charge.
In his 2011 autobiography, I am Zlatan, the Sweden international alluded to the strained relationship between the pair when he played under Ronald Koeman at Ajax and van Gaal was at the club as technical director.
Manchester United's style of play under Van Gaal this season has been criticised in some quarters - United have only scored 39 Premier League goals, just three more than Sunderland who currently sit 18th in the table.
Ibrahimovic is understood to be interested in a move to Old Trafford, believing it is a stage on which he can still perform at a high level for another two years, although that would depend on a change in manager.
Van Gaal's side lost 3-0 at Tottenham yesterday, the fourth defeat in their last 10 Premier League games, leaving them in fifth place, four points off the Champions League places.
Sky sources have also told us there is an offer on the table from an unnamed Chinese Super League club, worth £56m (approx 70m euros) to Ibrahimovic over two seasons.
Chinese clubs have demonstrated their immense spending power in recent months, and due to the fact they will not have to pay a transfer fee to sign Ibrahimovic, one club has been able to offer a contract that would pay him £28m (approx 35m euros) per season.
West Ham have also been linked with a move for Ibrahimovic as they prepare to move to the Olympic Stadium this season. The club's co-owner, David Sullivan, said last month he would "love to sign" Ibrahimovic, describing him as a "fantastic player", however they would not be able compete with the financial terms on offer from China.
