Forgotten Man Utd star courted by two Prem clubs as exit nears

Mata.Ighalo.Man_.Utd_.TEAMtalk

A rarely seen Man Utd star who provided Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with a timely boost last season is ‘attracting interest’ from top flight teams amid his impending exit.

Man Utd have thrust themselves into title contention on the back of a 10-game unbeaten league run.

Eight victories have been notched along the way. Combined with Liverpool’s dip in form, the Red Devils have taken the initiative.

The signs of a return to the top were showcased last season as the club surged to third place amid a superb second half of the season.

One player who pulled his weight in that purple patch was surprising January loan signing Odion Ighalo .

The ex-Watford frontman became a deadline day deal in January, 2020 when agreeing a short-term loan from Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua.

Though league starts were in short supply, Ighalo notched twice in the Europa League and scored an impressive three from three matches in the FA Cup.

His performances led to his loan stint being extended a further six months until the conclusion of January 2021.

Edinson Cavani’s summer arrival pushed Ighalo down the pecking order. As a result, the Nigerian accrued just 157 minutes of gametime this campaign as links of a shock switch to PSG emerged.

Odion Ighalo

Now, as his Old Trafford exit nears, Sky Sports report that Ighalo is attracting interest from across the world.

They state that clubs in Qatar and Saudi Arabia are exploring a deal, along with ‘two unnamed Premier League clubs’.

Ighalo’s contract with Shanghai Shenhua expires on December 31, 2021. The article indicates that they expect Ighalo to report back once he departs Man Utd.

However, Ighalo is described as being ‘open to listening to other offers’.

 

Man Utd defender Newcastle-bound?

Brandon Williams TEAMtalk

Newcastle United have agreed a loan deal in principle to sign Manchester United left-back Brandon Williams, claims a report.

The Shields Gazette claim the Geordies are in pole position to land the 20-year-old, who has been given the green light to leave on loan this month.

Steve Bruce’s side are understood to have the “framework” for a deal in place. However, there is expected to be plenty of competition for the young full-back.

Bruce admitted last week that the club were working on transfers.

“We’ve got one or two things (going on),” Bruce said.

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