The Manchester United on loan striker, Odion Ighalo has extended his loan at the club until January 2021.
Manchester United have reached an agreement with Shanghai Greenland Shenhua to extend Odion Ighalo loan deal.
The Nigerian International, loan deal in United was due to end on 31st May. Luckily, the striker will remain with the Red Devils until 30th January 2021. The loan extension will enable him build an impressive start to life with the club he dreamt of when he was a boy.
The initial deal came in January 2020 when United was short of attacking options due to the long term injury to Marcus Rashford. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his staff went about searching for a striker capable of leading the line for United in the final months of the season.
Given the January complexities of the transfer market, very few legitimate candidates appeared and the Red Devils looked in danger of failing to bring in a forward. However, on the final day of the transfer window, Ighalo’s services were secured on a short-term deal.
Despite scoring 40 goals in 100 appearances in England with Watford, many were impressed with Ighalo arrival. The 30-year-old was however not United’s first-choice. For Shanghai Shenhua, the Nigerian netted 46 goals across his 6678 minutes of competitive action.
There were concerns of whether he could transfer the abilities into a more demanding environment in England. However, Ighalo’s early signs were good and he certainly exhibited enough to Solskjaer and his team to persuade them to secure him on an extended deal.
The striker doesn’t tend to complicate his game and instead focuses on finding his space in the penalty area on hand to finish attacking move. This is probably why most of his shots on goal have come from inside the opposition box.
Whilst he may not be a starter in a fully fit United side, Ighalo has illustrated at the very least he can be a man to provide his team with a boost when called upon.
Ighalo’s tally of four goals in eight appearances includes at least one strike in each of his three starts against-Club Brugge, Derby County, and LASK.
The loan extension confirmation is a timely boost for Solskjaer as he continues to prepare his squad for this month’s resumption competitive football.
Ighalo will now hope to pick up from where he left off after winning United’s Goal of the Month award for March with a stunning strike in United’s 5-0 victory over Austrian club LASK in the Europa League.