FRESH from their superb start to the season, Manchester United could celebrate further with a new contract for Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

According to reports from ESPN FC, a new deal for the recovering Swede could be signed as early as this week.

The 35-year-old has been on the mend from a knee ligament injury suffered in April, and has made rapid progress.

Although initially released by United given the diagnosis was for a 2018 return, the club allowed him to continue to rehabilitate at their training venue - and that seems to have reaped dividends.

Although his replacement Romelu Lukaku, and fellow attackers Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial, have started the season in fine form, Ibrahimovic would provide a boost to Jose Mourinho’s title charge on and off the pitch.

The superstar was a sensation last term from a marketing point of view and added true star dust to the campaign at Old Trafford.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic of Manchester United. Source: Getty Images

Meanwhile, Ibrahimovic has suggested his knee is almost strong enough to return to football by posting a video of himself kicking a punching bag.

The 35-year-old appears bullish and eager to return as soon as possible as he completes two successful moves in a private gym, posting the caption “which knee?”.

His former United team-mate Eric Bailly then responded with his own video of him kicking Ibrahimovic before being chased out of the room, with the caption: “Hope you’re almost ready to return. I’ll be right here.”

Hope you're almost ready to return, @Ibra_official, I'll be right here! 😎👊🏾 pic.twitter.com/LHMS6StsXO — Eric Bailly (@ericbailly24) August 20, 2017

Ibrahimovic suffered right knee-ligament damage before the end of last season - the first serious injury of his veteran career - after scoring 28 goals in 46 appearances in his first season at Manchester United.

He remains without a club but is still wanted by Jose Mourinho if he can get back to full fitness, with the United manager admitting this summer that diaologue over his potential return is ongoing.

Mourinho said earlier this month: “He’s injured and needs time to recover. He’s not ready to play tomorrow so it’s not urgent. We’re not desperate to have it done or not done.

Manchester United's Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku Source: AFP

“I just think he was very clear showing what he did last year was not enough for him. He thinks he can do more. He wants more at football’s highest level, so we are having conversations and we are discussing the possibility of him staying with us for the second part of the season.”

The striker’s agent Mino Raiola told Sky Sports in May that there had been offers from “many leagues” for the former PSG and Barcelona striker and that he would “remain in Europe 100 per cent”.

“He still has one more year, maybe two left in his career,” Raiola said.

Read more: http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11667/10998386/zlatan-ibrahimovic-showcases-knee-strength-ahead-of-potential-manchester-united-return