Manchester United agree loan deal deal for former Watford striker Odion Ighalo

United have spent deadline day attempting to recruit a back-up striker

Miguel Delaney
Chief Football Writer
Friday 31 January 2020 18:31 EST
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Manchester United have agreed a six-month loan signing of Odion Ighalo from Shanghai Shenhua.

Ighalo joins United on loan for the rest of the 2019/20 campaign. There is no obligation to buy clause in the short-term agreement.

Bournemouth had earlier offered forward Joshua King to United and though a loan deal was initially discussed, the south coast club’s preference was for a permanent sale.

But after the two clubs struggled to reach an agreement over a fee, United turned their attention to other targets.

Ighalo emerged as their preferred back-up option and is open to leaving China after three seasons playing in the country.

The 30-year-old Nigeria international is currently in pre-season training with Shenhua, but the new Chinese Super League season has been delayed due to the escalation of the coronavirus.

Ighalo previously played for Watford, signing from Udinese in 2014 and helped the side to win promotion from the Championship.

He scored 16 goals in 55 Premier League matches for Watford before departing for Chinese Super League side Changchun Yatai for a reported £20m.

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