David Ginola has urged Manchester United to forget about signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic and invest in their academy instead.

Ibrahimovic’s Paris Saint-Germain contract expires in the summer and United are reportedly keen on bringing the talismanic forward to England.

But Ginola believes splashing out huge wages on the 34-year-old would be a backward step for the Premier League club.

Louis van Gaal has blooded numerous academy graduates since taking the helm at Old Trafford.

And, despite the lack of success under the Dutchman, Ginola says the club should continue with their policy of giving youngsters a chance rather than signing experienced ‘mercenary’ players like Ibrahmovic – as he believes it will benefit them in the long run.

The former France international, speaking on the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast, said: “He is reaching 35 and is probably at the end of his career. I don’t think it should be an option for Louis van Gaal or whoever is in charge next season.

“It is better to build a team around the youth and what they are doing at Man United right now with Rashford, Lingard and Martial, I would rather see that.

“Louis van Gaal has spent £200million on players and at the moment he is relying on 18-year-old kids. What is the point [of spending that money]?

“We are looking for teams and massive clubs like Man United to invest very significant amounts of money on the youth and the academy. Barcelona for ten years worked really hard to bring talent from the academy right up to the first team and that is exactly what they have done. I see the future going that way rather than spending hundreds of millions on players.

“I don’t want to see mercenaries in football. I want to see people who know inside out what the history of the club is all about and when you wear the shirt, you really play for them.”