Solskjaer hopeful of United trophy – with Ighalo

Manchester United manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is pleased that the Red Devils have reached an agreement with Shanghai Greenland Shenhua to extend the loan deal for Nigerian striker, Odion Ighalo.

Ighalo’s stay was initially due to end on 31 May but he will now remain with the Reds until 31 January 2021, enabling him to build on an impressive start to life with the club he supported as a boy. Ighalo’s tally of four goals in eight appearances so far includes at least one strike in each of his three starts – against Club Brugge, Derby County (2) and LASK.

Monday’s confirmation is a timely boost for United boss Solskjaer, as he continues to prepare his squad for this month’s resumption of competitive football. The Premier League’s proposed return date is 17 June and the Emirates FA Cup quarter-finals have been lined up for the weekend of 27 and 28 June. 

Actual fixtures are still to be finalised and ManUtd.com will publish all the details of United’s rescheduled games in due course.

Ighalo will now hope to pick up from where he left off, after winning United’s Goal of the Month award for March with a stunning strike in United’s last match, the impressive 5-0 victory over Austrian club LASK in the Europa League. That game at Linzer Stadion on Thursday March 12 was a sign of things to come, as it was played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Solskjaer discussed the outlook for Ighalo’s loan deal last week, when he appeared as a special guest on MUTV Group Chat.
“They [Shanghai Greenland Shenhua] have been great towards us, allowing him to play for his dream club. It’s been a dream for him and hopefully, he can finish what he started and win a trophy with us,” Solskjaer said.