Many clubs across the globe are currently facing a huge task to curtail the financial losses that has unexpectedly affected club’s finances in the wake of this pandemic crisis. Many deals and contracts are been put on hold while the clubs keeps pondering on probable solutions to maintain the finances of their clubs.
Manchester United took the advantage of Odion Ighalo’s availability during the winter transfer window which coincides with Chinese Super league’s break to sign the 30-year-old ex-Nigerian international forward from his parent club Shanghai Shenhua on a 6-months loan deal.
His impressive goal scoring form in the Chinese Super league was enough to enthrall the attention of the Red Devils manager Ole Gunnar Solkjaer, whom was seeking for a quality cover for his injured striker Marcus Rashford and out-of-form French forward Anthony Martial.
For Shanghai Shenhua, Ighalo had notched 10 goals in 19 appearances. Joining the Red Devils, he became the first Nigerian player and only the seventh African to join the Theatre of Dreams.
After the move was confirmed, Ighalo revealed that: “he had taken a pay cut to make the move happen, calling it a “dream” to join the club he has long supported”.
Ighalo has since featured in 8 matches and scoring an impressive return of 4 goals to his name for United.
Though in March 2020, while having an impressing runs of games at Old Trafford, his parent club ‘Shanghai Shenhua’ swiftly offered him a contract extension worth over £400,000 a week to fend off any potential suitor (especially Manchester United) for his signature.
His goals and contributions before the league was suspended has placed him in a very good position, worthy to be considered and hopeful of a permanent deal to remain at Old Trafford but according to ‘Evening Standard’, Manchester United are still weighing up their options whether to offer the ex-Super Eagles striker a permanent contract or allow him to return to his parent club after his loan spell.
Ighalo obviously isn’t short of suitors, as his agent Abdul Sule revealed in an interview.
But with Ighalo’s intent to remain with the Red Devils, coupled with taking a pay cut to actualise his dream, it tends to put both his parent club and himself in a situation which might end up as a show of war over the dispute on where his next destination will be after his loan spell ends with United.
It had earlier been reported that a long term solution looks to be United’s aim, which has already put the Ighalo at disadvantage but based on his current form, adaptation and willingness to take a pay cut, signing the ex-Watford forward looks to be the cheapest option for the Red Devils who are now looking unlikely to make a major signing this season due to the Pandemic crisis.
According to Sky Sports, Ighalo’s parent club Shanghai Shenhua are now expecting the ex-Super Eagles forward to return from his loan spell at United in time for the start of the new Chinese Super league season, which is scheduled to commence in July.
Manchester United’s indecision concerning the 30-year-old forward’s future with the club might cause Ighalo’s dream to remain at Old Trafford to collapse if a decision is not been agreed before July, when the Chinese Super league tends to resume.
