Manchester United confirm Ighalo loan extension

 

Manchester United have extended Odion Ighalo's loan extension until the end of January, the Premier League outfit has announced.

 

Ighalo joined United from Shanghai Shenhua on a five-month loan deal at the start of the year, which was due to expire on Sunday.

 

United previously agreed to let Ighalo return to China one-month earlier than most loan deals in time for the start of the new Chinese Super League campaign.

 

However, the Coronavirus pandemic has plunged football around the world into chaos and forced the Premier League into a three-month hiatus.

 

Ighalo will now be available for United for the remainder of the 2019/20 campaign, which is due to resume in the middle of June, and also part of next season.

 

 

Talks between the two clubs reached impasse at the end of May but a breakthrough was made over the weekend after Ighalo's personal plea to stay at Old Trafford.

 

United started January with Erling Haaland at the top of their wishlist only to end up with former Watford frontman Ighalo but the Nigerian striker has been a revelation.

 

Ighalo's WhoScored rating for United from his three starts alone is 8.95, having played a direct hand in five goals in that time (four goals, one assist).