Manchester United confirm Odion Ighalo loan extension

Odion Ighalo is staying with Manchester United after the club agreed a loan extension with Shanghai Shenhua until January 2021.

Eyebrows were raised when the former Watford striker made his deadline day switch from the Chinese Super League side in January, but the 30-year-old quickly made an impression at Old Trafford.

Ighalo scored four goals in eight appearances for the club he supported since childhood, only for the coronavirus suspension in England to take the season well beyond the loan deal’s expiration of May 31.

But the Nigeria international is now staying put after United confirmed a loan extension agreement was reached with Shanghai Shenhua, keeping him at United until January 31.

His protracted new £75million contract with Shanghai Shenua will then be discussed after his loan with United ends.

The Times recently reported that Shanghai had offered the striker, who has scored four goals in eight appearances for United, a new contract worth a whopping £75million over four years, but Ighalo is happy to shelve that for now to continue at Old Trafford.

His agent, Atta Aneke, has told Nettavisen that Ighalo is close to extending his loan, he said: “We are nearing an agreement with Manchester United on an extended loan. The agreement will mean that Ighalo will remain with them until January 2021.”

 

 

It seemed as though Ighalo’s time at United was up last week with the Daily Mail and The Times reporting that Ighalo was set to return to China over the weekend after a mega contract offer from his club.

Shanghai were apparently demanding that the Nigerian striker rejoins them to prepare for the start of the delayed Chinese Super League season.