Jose Mourinho has admitted Zlatan Ibrahimovic could play for Manchester United next season and has refused to rule out a move for Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic.

The United manager said he did not expect Ibrahimovic to return until December from a cruciate knee ligament injury suffered in April but he raised the prospect of the veteran Swedish striker making a dramatic comeback for the club once fit again.

United formally released Ibrahimovic last month but the 35-year-old has been undergoing his rehabilitation at their Carrington training base.

Ibrahimovic’s agent, Mino Raiola, has also held talks with MLS side LA Galaxy, whom United face at the StubHub Centre in the early hours on Sunday, and the player said this week that there will be a “very big announcement soon” about his future.