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Report: United won't retain Ibrahimovic

Reuters / Andrew Yates Livepic

Zlatan Ibrahimovic may find himself out of work relatively soon, with reports suggesting his Manchester United career will come to a close at the end of the month.

Manchester United isn't expected to offer the Swedish forward a contract extension when his current deal expires June 30, according to Jason Burt of The Telegraph.

The Premier League side is expected to exclude Ibrahimovic - who scored a team-leading 17 league goals - from its list of retained players, which will be published Friday.

Ibrahimovic's initial one-year contract included a team option for another 12 months, which would have been automatically triggered had he started 31 matches. However, Ibrahimovic only managed to make 27 starts before the injury curtailed his season.

United is reportedly expected to shift its focus elsewhere, since the 35-year-old will be unable to feature in the first half of the season after tearing the cruciate ligament in his knee.

Agent Mino Raiola insisted Ibrahimovic is eager to continue his career at United, while Mourinho told reporters in November that triggering the option for a second season was a "simple" decision. Mourinho's quotes from November have since been removed from the team's website.

"Zlatan's situation is simple: he has a one-plus-one contract with the club and we will execute the option of a second season," Mourinho said at the time.

After seemingly missing out on a chance to lure Antoine Griezmann away from Atletico Madrid, United will reportedly turn its attention to acquiring a new forward when the summer transfer window opens.

Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata is allegedly at the top of United's list of targets, with a report Wednesday suggesting that the Premier League side submitted an "improved offer" worth £60 million. Torino forward Andrea Belotti has also been linked with a move to Old Trafford, but the club's president insists that the 23-year-old will not be sold unless a €100-million release clause is triggered.

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