The agent of former Nigeria international Odion Ighalo has confirmed Manchester United and Chinese Super League club Shanghai Shenhua have edged closer to agreeing on extending the forward’s loan stint.
As Goal learned on Saturday, negotiations between United and Ighalo’s parent club are continuing and a deal is expected to be reached on Sunday, the day when the player’s loan spell expires following his Premier League return on the final day of the January transfer window.
As time ticked away, Ighalo’s agent Atta Aneke told Norwegian publication Nettavisen: “We are nearing an agreement with Manchester United on an extended loan. The agreement will mean that Ighalo will remain with them until January 2021.”
With the 2020 Chinese Super League season set to start at the end of June or early July, Shenhua were keen to bring Ighalo back but United are now on the verge of keeping the Nigerian for a further seven months following a breakthrough in talks.
United will pay another fee for the striker’s extended stay in Manchester and the new deal means Ighalo would be at Old Trafford beyond the current campaign if the 2020-21 season starts before the end of this year.
Shenhua were willing to make his Manchester move permanent for at least £20 million but United prefer the continuation of a temporary deal due to the attacker’s age, as he turns 31 on June 16. This is despite the striker being impressive so far, scoring four goals in eight games across all competitions.
Last week, United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was hopeful of Ighalo staying to “finish what he started.”
“We’re in dialogue. They’ve been great towards us, his club, and allowed him to play for his dream club,” Solskjaer told MUTV. “It’s been a dream for him and hopefully he can finish off what he started, hopefully with a trophy for us. At the moment, nothing has been agreed. Their league is going to get started soon so we’re just waiting to see.”
The Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent postponement of football has seen clubs agree to temporarily extend the deals of out-of-contract players so as to allow them to play out the season.
YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM THE PEOPLE’S JOURNAL
Buhari Loses Second Nephew In 23 Days
Ibrahim Dauda, President Muhammadu Buhari’s nephew, is dead. This is coming few days after the death of Mutari Dauda…. Read more
Melaye: I know a patient, COVID-19 in Kogi is real
Dino Melaye, former senator representing Kogi west, says the report of COVID-19 in Kogi state is “real and authentic”… Read more
COVID-19: Nigeria records highest daily toll of 553 cases
Nigeria recorded a significant spike in COVID-19 cases on Saturday, with 553 new cases confirmed in 14 states and the federal capital territory (FCT)… Read more
COVID-19: Kaduna Government Discharges Four-month-old
Kaduna State Government has disclosed that a four-month-old child, who earlier tested positive for COVID-19, has been discharged after testing negative for the virus…. Read more
Fleeing COVID-19 Patient In Abia Surrenders Self, Family To Hospital
The Abia State Government has confirmed that the fleeing COVID-19 patient in the state had surrendered himself and members of his family to the Infectious Diseases Hospital…. Read more
286 Stranded Nigerians Evacuated From China Arrive Abuja Airport
The Nigerian Government has evacuated 286 Nigerians stranded in China due to the COVID-19 lockdown…. Read more
Bobrisky arrested over ‘N30m fraud’
Police detectives from Abuja on Thursday arrested Idris Okuneye, a crossdresser better known as Bobrisky…. Read more
Presidency Lied, Technical Issues Blanked Out Buhari While Giving Speech During UN Virtual Meeting (VIDEO)
Video of United Nations virtual meeting on financing for development in the era of COVID-19 and beyond, which held on Thursday… Read more
Bukayo Saka hints at new Arsenal contract with cryptic Instagram post
ARSENAL fans have been left excited by Bukayo Saka’s latest Instagram post after the Gunners starlet posted a snap of himself… Read more
Victor Osimhen interested in Spurs transfer this summer
LILLE striker Victor Osimhen will not consider a move to Tottenham – unless they sell Harry Kane…. Read more
$18.34m Paid To Nigerian Kidnappers In Nine Years —Report
About $18.34m has been paid by families, friends and loved ones of kidnap victims in Nigeria in the last nine years, a new report…. Read more
My fiance and I have been engaged for 16 years but he keeps putting off the wedding
I TOOK my wedding dress to a charity shop when it went out of fashion because my fiancé has refused for so long to name the day… Read more
Finally, Trump terminates US relationship with WHO
United States President Donald Trump says the country is terminating its relationship with the World Health Organisation (WHO)… Read more
My girlfriend says she’ll have sex with her ex if she sees him and I’m devastated
IT plays on my mind that my girlfriend is friends with a lot of guys who have either had sex with her or want to…. Read more
My girlfriend is drinking more every day but she won’t admit she has a problem
EVERY day my girlfriend is drinking more and more. The only thing that stops her is having no money… Read more