Manchester United are reportedly on the verge of losing striker Odion Ighalo after failing to extend his contract.
Ighalo’s loan deal, which was arranged in January as a stop-gap following Marcus Rashford’s back injury. expires on 31 May – a month earlier than standard deals.
However, the Red Devils have been impressed with the Nigerian’s record after he scored four goals in eight games and have held talks with his parent club, Shanghai Shenhua, about allowing him to finish the protracted season.
However, according to the Daily Mail, the Chinese side’s long-touted demand that Ighalo moves back to Asia to begin the Chinese Super League season in July has forced United back and they are now expecting defeats in their efforts.
The newspaper adds that Shanghai have offered Ighalo – whose contract in China runs out next summer – a two-year extension on improved terms of £400 000 per week.
It is stated that Ighalo’s desire would prefer to finish the season at Old Trafford after realising his boyhood dream and hitting the ground running.
The 30-year-old scored his four goals in the FA Cup and Europa League and netted in United’s last game, a 5-0 win over LASK in Austria played behind closed doors.
