Odion Ighalo of Nigeria looks on during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group D match between Nigeria and Iceland at Volgograd Arena on June 22, 2018 in Volgograd, Russia. (Getty Images)
According to the BBC, Manchester United have completed the signing of Odion Ighalo on loan from Shanghai Shenhua on loan for the rest of the season. The report also adds that Ighalo will be at Old Trafford only for six months as his deal contains no buyback option.
Ighalo, 30, who came through the youth ranks of Prime FC in Nigeria, played for several clubs in Italy, Spain and his homeland before joining English side Watford permanently in 2014. In three years with the Hornets, he made 100 appearances, scoring 40 goals and setting up 11.
After his time at Vicarage Road, he switched to China with Changchun Yatai for two years before joining Shanghai Shenhua in 2019, helping the team win the Chinese Cup that year.
He was also in scintillating form for his country, finishing as the top scorer of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers with seven goals and adding a further five in the tournament.
Meanwhile, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had faced severe criticism for Manchester United’s performance this season as they have recorded one of their lowest points tally this term. They have been inconsistent since the start but are placed 7th on the table.
Injuries to key players like Paul Pogba and Scott McTominay for the majority of the season left the manager without any established players in the middle of the park. Fred has been the only bright spot in United’s midfield while the others haven’t contributed much.
Adding to that, Marcus Rashford’s injury against Wolves in the FA Cup replay has put them in a bad situation without any proper striker. He is United’s top scorer with 19 goals in all competitions and his loss in the last few games cost the team a lot, especially against Burnley, where they failed to register a goal despite having much of the possession.
Therefore, with the need to buy an experienced striker, Solskjaer has done enough to cover the place of the Englishman by bringing Odion Ighalo on loan.
Despite an injury-hit 2019 season, Ighalo scored 10 goals in the Chinese Super League after scoring 36 goals in the last two campaigns.
The 30-year-old was very much the star player in Watford’s promotion to the top-flight at the end of the 2014/15 season, where he scored 20 goals. He further added 16 goals in his debut season in the Premier League for the Hornets.
The Nigerian’s experience of playing in three of Europe’s top five leagues could be a key factor in his contribution to United for the second half of the season. And, if he replicates the fine form he has shown earlier, Solskjaer would benefit in the absence of Rashford.
Ighalo has a proven track record wherever he has played and he can be effective for the Old Trafford outfit as he is a natural centre-forward and has been in fine form of late. Therefore, Manchester United have done well in sorting out a solution to bolster their attack by securing Ighalo’s services on the deadline day.
