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Al-Shabab of Saudi Arabia striker, Odion Jude Ighalo has become the latest Nigerian player to be linked with Newcastle United of England, megasportsarena.com reports.
So soon after The Magpies expressed interest in signing Wilfred Onyinyen Ndidi from Leicester City and Bamidele Alli from Tottenham Hotspur, Ighalo is now reportedly on their transfer radar.
This is sequel to information on offer from Queensland, indicating that the club that previously had Celestine Babayaro and Shola Ameobi on their cards are seriously thinking about luring Ighalo back to England.
The veteran striker has previous experience in the English Premier League with Watford and Manchester United, such that a move to Saint James’ Park would not be outlandish for him.
Consequently, Sky Sports News reported late Friday that Newcastle, who are now coached by former Chelsea and Tottenham gaffer, Antonio Conte could lure Ighalo over in the coming week.
The report adds: “Al Shabab have informally asked Ighalo if he would be interested should Newcastle come in for him, and Sky Sports News has been told he would seriously consider a move if contact is made.
“Ighalo is the joint top scorer in the Saudi Professional League this season with nine goals. The Nigerian moved to the Middle East from Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua after his loan deal at Old Trafford came to an end earlier this year.
“The 32-year-old Ighalo, whose contract at Al Shabab expires in the summer of 2023, scored 40 goals in 100 appearances for Watford between 2014 and 2017 and netted five times in 23 games for United during his year-long spell at the club between January 2020 and January 2021.”
A report by allnigeriasoccer.com added: “The Magpies have included Ighalo on a list of potential targets ahead of the January transfer window.
“Ighalo’s current club Al Shabab have informally asked the Super Eagles star if he would be interested in joining Newcastle United should they firm up their interest in him and he gave a positive response.
“The 32-year-old has Premier League experience under his belt, playing for two different clubs Watford and Manchester United, scoring 16 goals in sixty-seven appearances.
“Ighalo, who He will enter the last eighteen months of his contract with Al Shabab in January 2022, is currently leading the goalscoring chart in the Saudi Professional Football League with nine in thirteen matches, an honour he shares with Al Nassr’s Brazilian star Anderson Souza Conceição.
“A product of Julius Berger, Ighalo began his career abroad with Lyn Oslo, followed by spells at Udinese, Granada and Cesena, before returning to Granada, from where he moved to Watford in 2014-2015, first on loan before the deal was made permanent.”
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