Warnock slams Man Utd for Ighalo move, outlines who should have signed

Neil Warnock has said that Manchester United have shown “desperation” by signing Odion Ighalo on loan for the rest of the season.

United were in need of a striker in the January transfer window following Marcus Rashford’s back injury, and the deal to bring Shanghai Greenland Shenhua attacker Ighalo was confirmed just after midnight on Saturday.

The Red Devils were linked with a host of other players but it became clear towards the back end of deadline day that Ighalo was set to move to Old Trafford.

Speaking ahead of the announcement on Sky Sports News, however, Warnock insisted that Ighalo was not the right fit for United, adding that Southampton’s Danny Ings would have been a better option.

“I tried to sign Ighalo when I was at Cardiff,” the 71-year-old said. “His salary was over six figures a week, £100,000, something like that.

“His agent tells you one thing, then the other. Manchester United won’t have that problem with the terms.

“I’m not sure he’s the right player for United. He’s not consistent and isn’t the right type of player.

“They want young players. Why didn’t they go for Danny Ings? He’s someone similar to Marcus Rashford. It’s desperation.”

Reports earlier on Friday revealed that United did attempt to sign Ings, but their proposal was swiftly brushed off by the Saints.

 

 

Other strikers the Red Devils were linked to included the likes of Krzysztof Piatek – who left AC Milan for Hertha Berlin – and former Newcastle striker Salomon Rondon.

The move also came after United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said he did not expect any more business to be conducted by the club after the arrival of Bruno Fernandes.

Speaking to United’s official website, Solskjaer said he was pleased that his team will be able to rely on Ighalo’s experience as a Premier League striker.

Nigeria international Ighalo scored 40 goals in 100 appearances in all competitions for Watford between 2014 and 2017.