Man United finally seal N1.4bn loan deal for ex-Eagles star Ighalo
Manchester United have completed the £3m (about N1.4bn) loan signing of ex-Super Eagles star Odion Ighalo – but the deal does not include an option to buy.
According to the Daily Mail report, Ighalo will travel back from China in the next few days. United see him as a short-term fix to striker problems exacerbated by Marcus Rashford’s back fracture, and good value for six months.
✍ #MUFC can confirm that Odion Ighalo will join us on loan from Shanghai Shenhua until the end of the season.
Welcome, Odion! 🔴
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 1, 2020
The report further added that the Red Devils beat Spurs to his signature with Jose Mourinho trying to solve his own striker crisis at the last minute.
In addition, Man United to pay just a third of Odion Ighalo’s mammoth wages during his time at Old Trafford.
United sealed the shock deal late in the evening on deadline day for the former Watford striker.
He will join Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side until the end of the season.
BREAKING: Odion Ighalo is confirmed as a #MUFC player on loan until the end of the season.
Welcome to Manchester United, Odio Ighalo! 🇳🇬🔴 pic.twitter.com/8ShgydVUU4
— United Zone (@ManUnitedZone_) January 31, 2020
Striker Ighalo, 30, has just under two years left on his £300,000-per-week contract with Chinese Super League club Shanghai Shenhua.
United have agreed a contract that will see them contribute £100,000-per-week of that figure while he is on their books.
United turned their attention to Ighalo in their increasingly frantic search for a striker after Bournemouth wanted £40million for Josh King.
United conceded defeat in their bid to land Bournemouth’s King after their offer of around £20m on Thursday night was quickly rebuffed and described as ‘a joke’ by senior Bournemouth officials.
They followed that up by informing the Cherries they are now looking at alternatives to King rather than planning to make an improved offer.
Former Watford striker Odion Ighalo has joined Manchester United on loan.
Full story 👉 https://t.co/fJLlzVD97w #manutd #mufc #bbcfootball #DeadlineDay pic.twitter.com/dOgbYXqnFM
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) January 31, 2020
Read Also: BREAKING: Man Utd agree deal to sign Ighalo from Shanghai Shenhua
Bournemouth were determined not lose King, 28, and United faced having to break the bank to stand any chance of persuading the Cherries to part with the former former Old Trafford academy product.
Ighalo will now return to the Premier League with United, having left three years ago for China.
Ighalo netted 40 goals in 100 games for Watford before signing for Shanghai Shenhua in a £22m deal.
The Nigerian enjoyed a decent season last term, scoring 10 goals in 19 games for Shanghai despite missing over two months with a hamstring problem.