Solskjaer Speaks On Ighalo’s Man United Future
- In talks with Chinese side, Shanghai Shenhua
With just few days away, former Nigerian international, Odion Ighalo’s loan deal at Manchester United expires at the end of May 2020 and the Old Trafford boss, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has given an update on the striker’s potential departure
Solskjaer hopes Ighalo can extend his loan stay at the Theatre of Dreams but confirmed that agreement has not yet been reached with Chinese side, Shanghai Shenhua.
Ighalo signed for United on the final day of the January transfer window on a loan deal until the end of the May, when the current season should have finished.
However, the postponement of all fixtures due to COVID-19 means the ex-Super Eagles point man only played eight times and as it stands, he is set to leave the club at the end of this week.
Though United would like to extend Igbalo’s loan stay, as new Premier League rules permit, his parent Chinese club, Shanghai Shenhua, are keen to have him back for the start of the Chinese Super League season later in June.
Solskjaer confirmed that both clubs are still in talks but they have yet to reach a resolution with the end of his deal is getting closer.
“The loan deal went until the end of May now, so obviously he’s supposed to be going back,” Solskjaer told MUTV.
According to him; “We’re in dialogue. They’ve been great towards us, his club, 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, hopefully with a trophy for us. At the moment, nothing has been agreed. Their league is going to get started soon so we’re just waiting to see.”
Ighalo has impressed during his eight appearances since his arrival in January, scoring four goals in his three starts.
The striker is keen to extend his stay at his boyhood club but Goal understands United have not opened negotiations to keep the 30-year-old on a permanent basis.
It is understood Shenhua have offered Ighalo a new contract worth around £400,000 a week and they are keen to have him back to boost their paper-thin squad.
Solskjaer’s squad, however, is back to full strength ahead of the potential restart of the Premier League, with both Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford back to full fitness.
“They [Rashford and Pogba] are looking good, they’ve joined training now and they’ve done everything the other boys have been doing. No reaction so far, touch wood,” Solskjaer said.
He said; “When we get started, it looks like we can have a full squad to choose from.” – Goal.com
