Manchester United are looking to offer Odion Ighalo a loan extension, although the club are debating sorting out a permanent move, according to The Evening Standard.
By extending his stay at Old Trafford, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would give himself more time to consider making a £15m bid for Ighalo in the future.
However, any agreement rests entirely on Shanghai Shenhua’s willingness to let the forward remain with the Red Devils.
After arriving at the Theatre of Dreams from his Chinese parent club on a short-term contract in January, the 30-year-old has delighted the crowds at the Stretford End, scoring 4 goals in only 8 appearances for Solskjaer’s side up until now (Transfermarkt).
The Nigerian was initially drafted in to cover for Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial, but has exceeded all expectations so far, bagging 2 goals in 3 games in the Europa League this season, taking 2.7 shots on average and completing 1.7 dribbles per game (WhoScored). His current market value is priced at £4.68m via Transfermarkt.
In contrast, his teammate Martial has scored 3 goals in 4 games in the European competition, averaging 1.8 shots and making 1.5 dribbles on average in the campaign so far (WhoScored).
As expected, a whole number of Red Devils weighed in on the transfer news online, with one fan branding the news “fantastic,” and another pleading with Ed Woodward to “get Timo I beg” in reference to RB Leipzig star Timo Werner who has also been linked with a move to Old Trafford.
Have a read through the rest of the mixed reactions down below…
https://twitter.com/Jqy____/status/1258392791601819648?s=20
great. we should buy a striker atleast as good as martial instead of loaning a 31 year old ighalo imo.
— Chilavert (GK) #67 (@CstManutd) May 7, 2020
Why will we keep a 31years old on £130k per week when Liverpool give mane £100k, get werner and try win the league end of it pic.twitter.com/ltfSQZ1bX6
— RashfordXBruno🔥🏴🇵🇹 (@RashfordXBruno) May 7, 2020
Werner please
— bamadyan⚜ (@bagasnurfan) May 7, 2020
Whatever happens with Ighalo is a win. It’s rare in football but it is. He’d be a fantastic back-up option and if the club moved on he gets to say he played for United and the club will get someone younger. It’s a very rare win all round no matter what happens.
— ManUnitedTalk (@ManUnitedTalk) May 7, 2020
Good. All he’s done is score vs farmers and hold the ball up once against one of the worst Chelsea sides in decades.
Permanent would be stupid.
— Joshyy (@JoshyyEU) May 7, 2020
United fans, do you feel the board has made the right move? Let us know in the comments section!
