LONDON - Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be offered £5m a season to become the face of new MLS club Los Angeles FC, with the option of an immediate loan back to Old Trafford next season.
Ibrahimovic’s future at United is uncertain with the 35-year-old out of contract this summer.
Now it can be revealed that LAFC want to make the Swede their marquee signing when they begin their debut season in Major League Soccer in March 2018.
Ibrahimovic will not be short of offers if he does leave United, but LAFC’s unique selling point is that they would allow him to play the first half of another European season on loan before joining them.
That would open the door for Ibrahimovic to play a chunk of next season at United, something that has been done before with big-name MLS players.
For example, David Beckham played for AC Milan and then LA Galaxy in 2009 and 2010.
LAFC owner Tom Penn said recently: ‘We have spoken about the desire for a player of global stature. We want a player who is passionate about becoming the first LAFC legend.
undefined‘They will likely be loaned back so that they can continue to play football in Europe.’
Frank Lampard earned almost £5m a season during his stay in MLS at New York City while Steven Gerrard was paid a similar amount while playing for LA Galaxy. MLS’s highest earner of recent times is the Brazilian Kaka, paid £5.6m a season at Orlando City.
Ibrahimovic is in talks with United over an extended stay after scoring an incredible 28 goals in his first English season.
But he has already indicated that another campaign at a club which is not guaranteed Champions League football next season might not suit him.