Red Devils manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has challenged loan signing Odion Ighalo to earn a permanent stay at Manchester United following his move in the winter transfer window.
Ighalo joined the red side of Manchester on a temporary deal on deadline day in the January market, as the club desperately needed to seek a short-term solution for top scorer Marcus Rashford’s serious injury, which is expected to keep him out of action until April.
While Bournemouth forward Joshua King was considered as a potential target by Solskjaer with even Cherries manager Eddie Howe confirming the club has made an approach to sign the Norwegian the fallen Premier League giants decided to opt Shanghai Shenhua-owned Ighalo instead.
Although the Nigerian has only joined the club on a loan deal without the option for United to purchase the striker on a permanent basis, Solskjaer sees no reason why securing a permanent contract should be seen beyond reach for Ighalo.
The 46-year-old Solskjaer spoke to reporters and stated that Ighalo should make him think to sign the forward on a permanent deal by impressing at his new club, “It’s a loan, but when you’re in the door, and if you impress, it gives you a chance, “That’s exactly the same for everyone who signs. If it’s permanent or if it’s a loan, if you impress as a player, if you impress as a person if you can help this group improve, of course, there’s a chance we’ll look at extending things.”
The Manchester United faithful faced their critics and suggested that Ighalo was a desperate last-ditch signing by the English outfit, particularly given they were said to be chasing the teenage sensation, Erling Haaland, prior to his move to the German side Borussia Dortmund.
