Manchester United: Red Devils didn’t want Odion Ighalo before pandemic, prompting fan reactions

Many Manchester United fans have been discussing David Ornstein’s shock revelation that the board were in the process of signing a replacement for Odion Ighalo, before the pandemic hit.

The Athletic’s football writer dropped the stunning update during a fan Q&A, writing: “United were also preparing an offer for a striker before the lockdown – not sure who – and the idea was if he ended up signing Ighalo would return to China. But COVID-19 has thrown everything up in the air, so we don’t know how things will pan out.”

Having moved to Old Trafford from Shanghai Shenhua earlier this year on a short-term loan until the end of the season, Ighalo has already netted 4 goals in 8 appearances for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side, including a brace against Derby County in the FA Cup towards the beginning of March (Transfermarkt).

He was initially brought in to cover for injured strikers Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial, but the Nigerian has more than filled their boots, and has quickly adapted to life in Manchester so far. Ighalo has put in a string of impressive performances in the Europa League, averaging 2.7 shots per game, playing 2 key passes, and successfully completing 1.7 dribbles on average via WhoScored. His current market value is rated at £4.68m via Transfermarkt.

Naturally this news has come as a surprise to a large portion of the Red Devils fan base given his form, with one fan dismissing the report as “pure nonsense,” while another pleaded with the board by saying “don’t send him back.”

Take a look at the different reactions online…

My striker! ”Cross comes from the right, goes straight to unknown AND HE SCOOREEESSS. WHAT A GOAL BY UNKNOWN”

— noah (@NoahUtd_) April 16, 2020

Ighalo 🥺

— Jakub (@kyczmot) April 16, 2020

Bet it was joshua king again, if we were to sign him over ighalo right now jeez 👎🏻

— hobson9999 (@hobson9999) April 16, 2020

Pure nonsense 🙈🙈🙈

— Eoin Donnellan (@donnellan_eoin) April 16, 2020

I would say Osimhen unless they were planning a madness out of nowhere. Would need big bucks to replace Martial, Osimhen would likely be happy to compete for his spot

— Adam (@rashdeuter) April 16, 2020

Pretty sure Ighalo would pay for free, not suggesting nor supporting this of course. Please don’t send him back, he brings us energy and passion like no other has.

— As Red as United (@asredasunited) April 16, 2020

Poor Ighalo might not play for us again if the season becomes null and void! Really impressed in a short space of time 👏🏻

— RegularJon (@colesy1985) April 16, 2020