Lalas, who served as general manager of the Galaxy from 2006-08, confirmed a story reported by ESPN FC on Wednesday that LA had approached the Premier League club with a tentative deal for the Swede, who has yet to renew his option for next season with United.

And Lalas said he believes there are numerous reasons, besides money, that a move to the U.S. top flight makes sense for Ibrahimovic.

Lalas, who left the Galaxy in 2014, said: "The pitch to Zlatan Ibrahimovic is not just that you get to come to Major League Soccer and they will pay you a lot of money.

"It is also that you get to expand that brand in a market that continues to get bigger and bigger.

"I think they do have a chance [of signing Ibrahimovic]. Whether it's this summer or maybe a year from now I still think there is going to be an interest."

Reports in the United States suggest the Galaxy would be willing to make Ibrahimovic the highest-paid player in MLS history.

"There have been conversations and, I think, a relationship for some time regarding this possible move," Lalas said.

"The Galaxy are Major League Soccer's 'super club.' They do big, bold things. They have sexy signings, that's what they have built themselves as, that's what they sell themselves as, and this type of signing would fall right into play with that.

"And there's a lifestyle issue that is very very attractive to people and the opportunity for him to come into this market in North America and just inject that Zlatan brand to a public that, while many soccer people know, the people outsider of soccer maybe don't know.

"And that can be very attractive to people that are concerned and cultivate a brand."