Shocking! as Man Utd scouts watch £30m striker earmarked to replace Odion Ighalo
Manchester United scouts are working beyond their schedule to get a replacement for newly signed Odion Ighalo.
According to reports, the scouts watched striker Vedat Muriqi in action in Turkey on Saturday as a possible replacement for Nigeria’s striker who has yet to play a match for the club..
A source close to the Turkish Super Lig club has revealed to Turkish-Football that United officials were present during Fenerbahce’s 1-1 draw against Alanyaspor.
United’s talent spotters were checking on 25-year-old striker Muriqi, who also being watched by Burnley and Lazio scouts.
Turkish outlet Fotospor claimed that United, in their scramble to add a striker, submitted a £22m bid to bring the striker in at the end of January.
A move never materialised though and instead United pounced for 30-year-old Odion Ighalo, who arrived on loan until the end of the season.
The report claims Fenerbahce are willing to let the Kosovo international leave in the summer, as long as his £30million price tag is met.
Muriqi, who played the full 90 minutes against Alanyaspor, was scouted by Leicester and Brighton last week.
According to Haber Global reporter Yagiz Sabuncuoglu, Leicester City scouts travelled to Trabzon last Saturday to watch Muriqi in action against Trabzonspor.
The powerful striker, who is under contract until 2023, has scored 13 goals in 22 games this season, but has failed to net in front of the watching scouts in the last two games.
Fenerbahce take on Ankaragucu on Saturday with the source claiming scouts are expected to be watching the forward once again.
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was desperate to add a frontman to his squad last month and eventually landed Ighalo from Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua until the end of the season.
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However, there is no clause to make the deal a permanent one and Ighalo is seen as a stop-gap signing to cover the absence of the injured Marcus Rashford.