The Nigerian's current loan is
set to conclude on Sunday but there is hope that he will be able to remain at
Old Trafford until
the end of 2020
Manchester
United are continuing negotiations with Shanghai Shenhua over a loan
extension for Odion Ighalo, with Goal learning
that there is hope a deal can be agreed to keep him at Old Trafford until
January 2021.
Former Nigeria international
Ighalo arrived at United on loan on the final day of the January transfer
window in a deal that would keep him at the club until May 31, when the season
would have ordinarily come to an end.
The
Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent postponement of football has seen clubs agree
to temporarily extend the deals of out-of-contract players so as to
allow them to play out the season.
United,
however, have been locked in negotiations with Ighalo's parent club Shanghai
Shenhua in a bid to extend his stay so, at the very least, he could see out the
campaign upon
its resumption on June 17.
Chinese Super League outfit
Shenhua were keen to bring the striker back to prepare for the re-start of
football in China, but a
breakthrough in negotiations in the past week has given Ighalo hope of
remaining in Manchester.
With
his current deal set to expire on Sunday, it is understood that there is
growing confidence a last-minute deal can be agreed to keep the 30-year-old at
United until January. Negotiations are now centred around an extension
until the new year, rather than just until the end of the current campaign.
United have already had to pay
Shenhua a loan fee for the original deal, and the Chinese side would expect
another instalment for the extended stay.
While
sources say there is hope and confidence a deal can be found between all
parties, the extension has yet to be fully agreed upon as the deadline ticks
closer.
ghalo’s arrival in January was widely
criticised as it went against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s revamped transfer strategy
of recruiting young British players.
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