Manchester United could still receive important forward boost
By Bence Bocsak
According to the latest reports, Manchester United could still have a small glimmer of a chance to retain their current Nigerian striker.
When Odion Ighalo arrived at Manchester United he had fulfilled a life long dream. As a child, he grew up watching the Red Devils in his home city, Lagos, dreaming of the chance to set afoot on the hallowed Old Trafford turf.
Having spent almost three years in China, the Nigerian must have thought his dreams had eluded him. But Solskjaer saw something in the forward and he brought him to Manchester as a wildcard.
It has been a wildcard which has paid dividends at Old Trafford. Having been written off even before he had kicked a ball in United colours, Ighalo has been a revelation and has proved all his doubters dully wrong.
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He would have carried on in the same form, had it not been for the disruption of the football.
When the news broke earlier this week, that Ighalo might never play for the Red Devils again, it had sent a tinge of sadness permeating around the club. The Nigerian had endeared himself to the hearts of the fans and if he does indeed depart Old Trafford it will be a bitter end to an almost fairy tale beginning.
Nonetheless, with United being Odion Ighalo’s boyhood club, it is unlikely the Nigerian will give up on pursuing his dream further without a fight. According to a report by Manchester Evening News Ighalo has made a ‘personal please to Shanghai Shenhua to let him finish the season at Manchester United before returning to China.’
Odion Ighalo’s plea seems like an action borne of desperation and only time will tell whether it will be enough to convince his Chinese succumb to the negotiations.
One thing for sure is that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will need all the firepower he can get ahead of what promises to be a congested fixture schedule and a pivotal period of the season with the Red Devils desperate to pip Chelsea to the last Champions League spot.
With the Norwegian especially short of attacking options in the current United squad, Odion Ighalo’s presence could be the key to helping the Red Devils achieve their ambition.
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Will United be able to cope without Odion Ighalo?