Man Utd Contract Extension: Ighalo Agrees £6m Pay Cut
…Nominated For Maiden Manchester United Award
Odion Ighalo will happily take a £6million hit to his switch Old Trafford move a permanent one.
Ighalo joined Manchester United in January on loan as a stopgap striker for the rest of the season.
But after banging in four goals already boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has admitted that deal could turn into a full-time move.
And Ighalo, 30, is prepared to take a 50 per cent pay cut to stay at the club he loves.
The Nigerian earns £240,000 a week with Chinese Super League outfit Shanghai Shenhua.
Ighalo knows United chiefs will not stump up the same salary if a deal is done — and he has no problem with that.
His Shanghai contract runs until New Year’s Eve 2021 but United do have the option to buy in the next window, under the terms of his loan deal.
Even though Marcus Rashford will be fit by then, and manager Solskjaer wants another top-line front man in the summer, there is every chance Ighalo will get his wish.
The one-time Watford forward has been a sensation since returning to England, and his four goals in as many starts have made him a cult figure to fans.
After opening his account against Brugge, he bagged an FA Cup double at Derby, and got a wonder-strike to start Thursday’s five-goal Europa League romp over Austrians LASK.
Meanwhile, the Red Devils are unbeaten since the signing of the Nigeria forward who provided three goals and an assist this month. Odion Ighalo has been nominated for Manchester United’s Player of the Month award for March.
The 30-year-old faces competition from fellow January signing Bruno Fernandes, Harry Maguire and Fred as he eyes his maiden accolade at Old Trafford.
RELATED: KANU Hopes Ighalo Rescinds Nigeria Decision
Ighalo has boosted Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team since his temporary arrival in January and they are unbeaten in all competitions since their 2-0 defeat to Burnley back in January 22.
In March, the Nigeria forward scored three goals including a brace in their 3-0 win over Derby County in the FA Cup and also produced a man-of-the-match display against LASK where he scored a goal and provided an assist in their Europa League triumph last Thursday.
Ighalo is yet to start a Premier League match for Manchester United but he has scored four goals in three starts already.
With the Premier League suspended until April 3 due to the coronavirus, Ighalo will be hoping to keep fit before fifth-placed Manchester United return to league action.
