Former Super Eagles’ striker, Odion Jude Ighalo has received a massive voice of support in his bid to get an extended deal at Manchester United of England, as The Red Devils’ coach, Ole Gonnar Solskjaer says he would love to see the Nigerian star finish the season at Old Trafford, megasportsarena.com gathered.
Solskjaer ’s confession comes at a point suspense and anxiety are lingering over Ighalo’s future, as his loan spell from Shanghai Shenhua of China to United runs out this Sunday, and he would be heading back to The Oriental Nation if an extended agreement cannot be reached between both clubs n the next 72 hours.
Ighalo signed for United on the final day of the January transfer window in a loan deal that is meant to run out this Sunday, May 31, when the current English Premier League season had originally been meant to have finished, but the postponement of all fixtures due to COVID-19 means he has only played eight matches for his dream club, and he is now set to leave.
However, Solskjaer has spoken out publicly to reveal that he would love to keep the top striker, who impressed with determined play, great team work and four goals within just two months with the side, such that the Norwegians tactician admits it would be a big blow seeing the star return to China at the start of next week.
Solskjaer added during Mega Sports on Star 101.5 FM, Lagos that he hopes Ighalo can extend his loan stay at United, despite admitting that an agreement has yet to be reached with Shenhua, who have offered the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations top goals scorer a new contract worth around £400,000 a week and they are keen to have him back to boost their squad in the new season.
The striker’s plight is now dangling in limbo between England and China, but Solskjaer’s desire has received a boost from an agent of the player, who says an extension is close to being agreed between Shenhua and United, who would like to extend his loan deal according to new EPL rules occasioned by coronavirus, but his parent club insist they must pay 20m pounds to keep him.
Incidentally, the 30-year-old striker is personally keen to extend his stay at his boyhood club and his chances of seeing that happen could eventually be aided by revelations that foreign players in the Chinese Super League are set to be banned from returning until October, to avoid fresh issues of self-isolation and quarantine, as fears persists over possibility of COVID-19 recurring.
Amidst suspense hovering over Ighalo’s potential extension to his time at United, reports out of China indicate that all foreign players may not be able to return to the highly populated Asian country until October, despite the new season set to start next month, which could then give the former Eagles’ star a long period of respite to stay put in England.
Information provided by Sike football reporter, Miao Yuan revealed further that up to a third of the Chinese Super League’s players are currently outside of China and face being refused entry until much later in the year, with Ighalo among those that fall into that category.
This means international flight restrictions may prevent Ighalo from returning to China in time for the start of the new season in June, and Shenhua expect him to sign a new deal with them, after which the Chinese Super League outfit will then look to get a temporary replacement.
In the light of the unexpected developments in China, it is now thought Shenhua will expect Ighalo to sign a new contract with them as a condition of him being allowed to extend his stay at Old Trafford, where he would then be expected to stay on loan until the end of this season.
Sky Sports added that the Shanghai-based CSL club, whose original stance was that they would only agree to extend his loan if an obligation to buy was incorporated into the deal or a full transfer worth up to £20m, are ready to allow Ighalo remain with United until January.
That could, therefore, give Solskjaer a breath of fresh air to hang unto, even as talks over an extended deal for Ighalo or outright purchase of his rights from Shenhua are yet to be sorted out, much to the disdain of The Red Devils’ 1999 UEFA Champions League winning hero against Bayern Munich of Germany, as he believes the Nigerian ace proved his mettle in two months.
Solskjaer submitted: “He has done so well and it would be good to continue having him around. We’ll love to give him an extension so that he can continue doing well. Let him finish what he has started, and probably even win a trophy with us. That would be really good for him.
“The loan deal went until the end of May now. So, obviously, he’s supposed to be going back. We’re in dialogue. They’ve been great towards us and allowed him to play for his dream club. It’s been a dream for him and hopefully he can finish off what he started. At the moment, nothing has been agreed. Their league is going to get started soon so we’re just waiting to see.”
