Man Utd on striker’s hunt to replace £75m worth Ighalo
Manchester United are on the hunt for a striker with Odion Ighalo likely to leave Manchester United on Sunday and return to Shanghai Shenhua.
The Times report that Shanghai have offered the 30-year-old striker, who has scored four goals in eight appearances for United, a new contract worth a whopping £75million over four years.
Igahlo joined United on a four-month loan from Shanghai on deadline day in the January transfer window to provide cover for Marcus Rashford.
There was much trepidation about the move, with Igaho seen as a panic buy after United’s move for Josh King collapsed, but the Nigerian proved his worth and is desperate to stay at Old Trafford.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer also wants to keep the experienced forward, but his loan deal expires in six days and the report claims “talks between the two clubs have reached an impasse”.
United could sign Ighalo permanently, but Shanghai have placed a £20million price tag on the former Watford man and United are not keen on a permanent deal.
Shanghai meanwhile are eager to get Igahlo back with the delayed Chinese Super League season likely to start as soon as next month, and have offered Ighalo a new three-and-a-half-year contract that runs until January 1, 2024 which is worth £400,000 per week.
United have been impressed with Ighalo in his time at the club, but United will not sanction a permanent deal for the player due to his age.
read also:Ighalo to pen massive deal at Shenhua after Man Utd exit
Solskjaer also has plenty of options in attack with Rashford close to a return to full fitness and Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood fit and available. The paper does though claim that Solskjaer is intent on signing a striker in the summer, but whether that will be a world-class frontman or a back-up forward remains to be seen.
The Manchester Evening News claim “there is no need this summer to spend millions on another world-class centre forward” with Greenwood in development and “the door open” for a move for Erling Haaland in a year or two.
They suggest a back-up striker will be on the agenda for Solskjaer, but The Times note that Lyons’s Moussa Dembele is “among his targets”.