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Manchester United Agree Personal Terms With Odion Ighalo For Loan Deal

Manchester United Agree Personal Terms With Odion Ighalo For Loan Deal

The former Watford striker has been playing in China for Shanghai Shenhua but secured a deadline day move back to the Premier League.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

Manchester United are set to make the surprise signing of transfer deadline day by bringing in Odion Ighalo from Shanghai Shenhua on a six month loan, with option to buy.

With an agreement reached for personal terms a Premier League 'deal sheet' is likely to be signed by United to give the club longer to complete the deal, with the striker set to travel to England to on Saturday.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer finally got his hands on Bruno Fernandes on Thursday but that simply shifted rumours United would sign a striker before the end of the window on Friday night up a gear.

The Premier League side have been linked with a move for a forward because of an injury to Marcus Rashford and deadline day was dominated with news of a move for Bournemouth's Joshua King but talks ended in the early evening.

Just as thoughts of an incoming transfer at Old Trafford before the window 'slamming shut' were dying down the news that Ighalo would be signed started to filter through.

The Nigeria international moved to the Chinese Super League in 2017 for Changchun Yatai, where he scored 36 times in 55 CSL games.

In 2019 he moved to Shanghai where he continued his good form in the Far East and scored another 10 goals in 17 games.

Before moving to China the 30-year-old played in England for Watford, including two seasons in the top tier. He helped the Hornets gain promotion to the Premier League with 20 goals in 35 games in the Championship.

The following season his goals and partnership with Troy Deeney helped keep the team up as he bagged 15 goals in 37 appearances but the season he left he scored just once in 18 before a January move across the world.

United had moved to Bournemouth's King earlier in the day but the Cherries had wanted far more that the Red Devils had been willing to spend, with Solskjaer's side preferring a loan deal.

According to reports Ed Woodward had also made enquiries for Edinson Cavani, Danny Ings, Salomon Rondon, Dries Mertens, Teemu Pukki and Krzysztof Piatek.

Rashford hasn't played since the FA Cup replay against Wolves, when he got injured coming on as a substitute, and without him Solskjaer is short of options upfront.

The England international has mainly played from the wing this season but he is the club's top scorer with 14 in the Premier League.

Can Ighalo replicate his first season in the Premier League?

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Topics: Bruno Fernandes, Football News, Manchester United, Transfer stories, Transfer rumours, Premier League, Marcus Rashford, Chinese Super League, Transfer news, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer