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Tag: Odion Ighalo

  • EPL: Ighalo clears air over Man Utd future

    EPL: Ighalo clears air over Man Utd future

    Nigerian striker Odion Ighalo has made it clear he wants to stay at Manchester United despite having been offered a lucrative deal to remain at Shanghai Shenhua.

    Ighalo who has been a major force at Old Trafford since his loan move in January, scoring four times in all competitions including a stunning effort against LASK in the Europa League.

    However, Ighalo’s deal is due to expire on May 31, meaning United are likely to lose him either during, or before, the start of the rescheduled end to the currently suspended Premier League campaign.

    But now Ighalo has stated that his preference is to remain at Old Trafford and he would jump at the chance to make his move permanent.

    The former Watford hitman was ‘bored’ on Twitter on Friday night when a fan asked if he would like to remain at United if he was offered a contract extension, to which the forward replied emphatically: ‘Of course.’

     

     

     

     

  • Odion Ighalo urged to quit Man Utd for mega contract

    Odion Ighalo urged to quit Man Utd for mega contract

    Former Nigeria defender Ifeanyi Udeze believes Odion Ighalo needs to leave Manchester United.

    The striker is on-loan at United from Shanghai Shenhua and is wanted by the English giants in a permanent deal.

    But Udeze told Brila FM: “At 31, what’s left?

    “Who does he need to impress? No one – I will jump at the Shanghai’s offer immediately.

    “£400,000 is a lot of money and Manchester United cannot afford to match that amount, so, for me, I will accept Shanghai’s deal.”

  • £400,000-per-week offer: ‘I’d be shocked if Ighalo walked away’

    £400,000-per-week offer: ‘I’d be shocked if Ighalo walked away’

    Paul Merson, has said he would be shocked if Manchester United striker, Odion Ighalo, turn down a permanent move to the Red Devil and return to Shanghai Shenhua at the end of the season after being offered £400,000-a-week wages by the Chinese club.

    Shanghai Shenhua has not given up hope of Ighalo returning to China and has offered the former Watford star £400,000-a-week wages to stay on with them.

    Ighalo joined the Man United last January transfer window on a six-month loan deal from Shenhua.

    The Nigerian striker has scored four goals in eight appearances for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side so far this season, but Merson believes the 30-year-old cannot turn down a permanent move to stay at Old Trafford even if it means for him to accept a pay cut.

    “Now I can say Odion Ighalo has been outstanding since he joined Man United,” Merson told Sky Sports.

    “He hasn’t played many matches for Manchester United, but when he’s come off the bench and when he has got some game time, he looked class.

    “Manchester United will have to make a hard decision Manchester United regarding his future at the club because if you give him a new contract, can he perform again that next season?

    “When you go to a club on loan, you have got that hunger of wanting to secure a permanent transfer and prove everybody in the club right and everybody outside the club wrong.

    “If you are going on the form he has shown since he arrived at the club in January, it’s going to be hard to get rid of him.

    “Don’t worry about the new mega-money offers from Shenhua. Ighalo has said all the right things since joining Manchester United.

    “He has said it many times that he has dreamed of playing for Man United, so if the Red Devils do offer him a permanent deal, I cannot see him turning it down.

    “Everything has gone right for him so far, and if Man United does offer him a chance to stay, I’d be shocked if he walked away,” he said.

  • Odion Ighalo offered £400,000-a-week deal

    Odion Ighalo offered £400,000-a-week deal

    Odion Ighalo has been offered a two-year contract extension by his parent club Shanghai Shenhua, Sky Sports reports.

    The deal will see Ighalo who is currently on loan at Manchester United, earn around £400,000 per week.

    The 30-year-old joined the Old Trafford club in January, after Marcus Rashford suffered a back injury.

    He has gone on to become a favourite with United fans in a short time, scoring four times in three starts for the Red Devils.

    It is believed that United are looking at extending his loan period which ends in June or even sign him permanently.

    It however remains to be seen if Ighalo will be tempted by Shanghai’s bid to keep him at the Chinese Super League club.

  • Odion Ighalo loses out on Man Utd award

    Odion Ighalo loses out on Man Utd award

    Bruno Fernandes has been named Manchester United Player of the Month for March, ahead of Odion Ighalo and Harry Maguire.

    Ighalo netted three times and provided one assist this month.

    His goals included a brace against Derby County in the FA Cup and one against LASK in the Europa League.

    Ighalo is yet to find the back of the net in the Premier League.

    Fernandes, who has also been in top form since his arrival at Old Trafford, however won the accolade.

    The Portugal midfielder has scored three times since he arrived at United in January.

  • EPL: Ighalo refuses to address Man Utd future

    EPL: Ighalo refuses to address Man Utd future

    Manchester United striker Odion Ighalo has refused to open up on his contract situation at Old Trafford amid the coronavirus outbreak, which could see his time with the Red Devils cut short.

    Ighalo has been a revelation for the Red Devils since completing a loan move to the Theatre of Dreams from Shanghai Shenhua on deadline day in the January transfer window.

    The 30-year-old has hit four goals in his first three starts for the club, proving his worth as a formidable target man with impressive technical ability and a ruthless streak in the final third of the pitch.

    United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has lavished praise upon the forward in recent weeks, and even hinted that his services could be retained beyond the summer.

    However, Ighalo’s future in Manchester is now very much up in the air, with the Covid-19 crisis bringing a halt to all domestic and European competitions until April at the earliest.

    It is highly likely that all fixtures will be pushed back even further as government officials continue to try and contain the spread of the illness, meaning Ighalo’s six-month contract could expire before he has had the chance to earn a permanent move.

    The ex-Nigeria international is not concerned over his position at Old Trafford at the moment though, with it his belief that the challenges facing the world at present must be put above football.

    “Talking about other things now will not only be selfish but terribly insensitive. I don’t even think about it,” Ighalo told The Sun when asked to comment on his contract situation.

    “The challenge before us now is not a football one, but a global one.

    “You can’t put football before health challenges. What matters right now is to keep safe and pray for those battling with the virus to recover fully.

    “This is another reminder for us to share love in this world. Continue to show kindness to one another because a problem facing one is a problem to all.”

    Ighalo is currently self-isolating at his home in Manchester while his family remain in London, with United cancelling all first-team training sessions indefinitely.

    “We are all working individually away from the training ground and staying fit at home,” the Red-Devils frontman added.

    “Of course I miss football, like other players and fans. But lives matter.

    “Staying safe and alive is our biggest game in the world now – and we all have a role to play in it.

  • Odion Ighalo nominated for Man Utd award

    Odion Ighalo nominated for Man Utd award

    Odion Ighalo has been nominated for Manchester United’s Player of the Month award for March.

    The 30-year-old faces competition from fellow January signing Bruno Fernandes, Harry Maguire and Fred as he eyes his maiden accolade at Old Trafford.

    Ighalo has boosted Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team since his temporary arrival in January and they are unbeaten in all competitions since their 2-0 defeat to Burnley back in January 22.

    In March, the Nigeria forward scored three goals including a brace in their 3-0 win over Derby County in the FA Cup and also produced a man-of-the-match display against LASK where he scored a goal and provided an assist in their UEFA Europa League triumph last Thursday.

    Ighalo is yet to start a Premier League match for Manchester United but he has scored four goals in three starts already.

    With the Premier League suspended until April 3 due to the outbreak of coronavirus, Ighalo will be hoping to keep fit before fifth-placed Manchester United return to league action.

    Meanwhile, midfielder Bruno Fernandes was voted the Premier League’s Player of the Month for February, in further recognition of his influential start to life at Old Trafford.

    It was the third individual prize that the Portuguese has won since completing a transfer from Sporting on 30 January, after taking home our own fan-voted trophy and the PFA’s monthly gong.

    Fernandes made three top-flight appearances throughout the second month of 2020, contributing to a draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers before inspiring victories over Chelsea and Watford.

    So far, Bruno has played in nine United matches across all competitions, scored three goals, registered four assists and, perhaps most importantly of all, earned the love of the Reds’ supporters.

    In an interview with Sky Sports that aired over the weekend, the Portuguese magnifico explained he was delighted to receive such love from the fans, yet he remains humble amid the widespread praise.

    He said: “We can talk about a new start after Bruno but it is not about Bruno, it is about the team. One player doesn’t change a team. The team changes when everyone pushes together for the same side.”

  • FA Cup: Ighalo double sends Man Utd to quarter-final [Watch]

    FA Cup: Ighalo double sends Man Utd to quarter-final [Watch]

    Wayne Rooney was overshadowed by Odion Ighalo as Manchester United ensured an all-Premier League FA Cup quarter-final line-up with a comfortable win at Derby County.

    Rooney – United’s all-time leading goalscorer – had his name chanted throughout by the thousands of away fans and came close with two fine free-kicks.

    But from the moment left-back Luke Shaw’s deflected opener flew in the Premier League side were able to cruise into the last eight.

    January signing Ighalo again showed why his surprise acquisition may yet prove to be shrewd business with two smart finishes to book a tie with Norwich at Carrow Road later this month. He now has three goals from just two starts.

    United have won the FA Cup 12 times – one behind Arsenal’s record haul – while Derby have now played in six fifth-round ties since 1999 and failed to reach the quarter-finals on each occasion.

    Watch:

  • Europa: Ighalo scores first Man Utd goal

    Europa: Ighalo scores first Man Utd goal

    Odion Ighalo scored his first goal for Manchester United as they cruised into the Europa League last 16 at the expense of Club Bruges with one of their best performances of the season.

    Bruno Fernandes scored his second United penalty in a week after Simon Deli was sent off for a ludicrous handball to block Daniel James’ shot.

    The Portuguese, who was at the centre of everything, had a hand in the second as he lifted a pass over the top to Juan Mata, who squared for full debutant Ighalo to tap in from six yards.

    And Scott McTominay, making his first start following an injury, side-footed in a third to wrap the tie up before half-time.

    Fred scored his first two goals of the season in the final 10 minutes as United got the big scoreline their performance deserved.

    Club Bruges brought thousands of noisy fans to Old Trafford to help with a good atmosphere – but their players could not match their efforts and created nothing of note.

    The draw for the last 16 takes place on Friday – with United able to face any of the other teams left.

  • Man Utd: Ighalo in contention to start in Europa

    Man Utd: Ighalo in contention to start in Europa

    Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says January signing Odion Ighalo is in contention to start the first leg of Manchester United’s Europa League last-32 game against Club Bruges on Thursday.

    The Nigeria striker, 30, made his debut in the 2-0 win over Chelsea last weekend when he came on as substitute.

    “I won’t tell the team today but we will have to rotate with all the games coming up,” said the United manager.

    “He’s one that could start, we’ve not 100% decided yet.”

    The Norwegian added: “Odion is a different type of striker.

    “We have seen him in training. He knows how to play as a centre-forward – he’s a fantastic professional and human.

    “We need to give him as much game time as possible.”