FORMER Super Eagles striker Odion Ighalo has agreed an extension to his loan deal with Manchester United that will keep him at the English Premier league giants until the end of January next year.
Ighalo, 30, is currently on loan to Manchester United for a six month period that ended this month while the Chinese league was on a break but his scintillating form led manager Ole Gunner Solksjaer wanting to keep him for longer. To make matters worse, the suspension of the league due to the coronavirus pandemic, meant that Manchester United did not get much use of the striker during his loan spell.
Keen to hold on to the striker, Mr Solksjaer entered into talks with his Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua about extending Ighalo’s loan spell for three months. Shanghai Shenhua initially rejected Manchester United’s request and asked Ighalo, to rejoin the club and prepare for the start of the delayed season.
It now appears, however, that the two clubs have been able to reach a deal with Ighalo finally extending his loan spell in England until January 31 2021. A new contract with his parent club Shanghai Shenhua, will be discussed after the loan spell with Manchester United ends, with the deal just waiting for confirmation from the English FA.
Ighalo has scored four times in eight appearances for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side and is a fans’ favourite. Signing him long term may be difficult, however, as Ighalo has been offered a new bumper contract worth £400,000 a week by Shanghai Shenhua and Manchester United may have to match this if they want to keep the striker.
