Manchester United: Solskjaer’s forward options set to diminish next week
By Bence Bocsak
In what is a surprising move, Manchester United might lose one of their key forwards as early as next week according to the latest reports.
In January, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer knew he was in trouble. The Norwegian who was once an adored forward at Old Trafford, was without a striker as manager of Manchester United. He had tried desperately to bring his compatriot Erling Braut Haland to the club but it was to no avail.
The Norwegian coach would receive taunts on social media as he plotted his next move. The Red Devils had lined up an unlikely candidate in Odion Ighalo to fill the void at Old Trafford.
On paper, Ighalo’s career had little potential to titillate the Stretford Ends’ hearts. Despite having impressed briefly in a fleeting spell with Watford, Ighalo had spent three years in China and had already reached past his thirties.
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Fast forward six months, and the Old Trafford faithful will be sad to see the Nigerian depart.
However according to the Guardian, that might become the reality come next week with Odion Ighalo’s parent club set to be unlikely to agree a loan extension for the Nigerian forward.
It would be a bitter end for Odion Ighalo having promised so much in his brief time at Old Trafford.
Ighalo endeared himself to Red Devils faithful with some impressive performances and even a handful of goals.
He looked just about to kick on when the football was suspended and Ighalo himself will be reluctant to return to China having achieved his boyhood dreams by representing the Red Devils.
With Solskjaer powerless to stop it, he will be hoping there will be a twist in the negotiations between Shanghai Shenhua and United in the coming week.
If not, with Marcus Rashford still not match-fit and unlikely to be able to return to action when the football resumes, Solskjaer might have to rely on Mason Greenwood to play even more regularly than before.
It will be a huge test for the 18 year old, but one he is well placed to take having already impressed in a plethora of games this season.
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Will you be sad to see Odion Ighalo leave Man United?