Manchester United forward Odion Ighalo is all set to return to China as Shanghai Shenhua have refused to extend the loan agreement – as per the Daily Mail.
The report claims: “Manchester United have hit a brick wall in their attempts to extend Odion Ighalo’s loan deal with just a week to go before it runs out.
“Shanghai Shenhua have rejected United’s requests to keep Ighalo at Old Trafford for another three months and are demanding that the Nigerian striker rejoins them to prepare for the start of the delayed Chinese Super League season.
“Unless United can make a late breakthrough in talks, Ighalo will return to Shanghai when his loan ends a week on Monday having played his last game for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side.”
Will Odion Ighalo be heading back to China?
The strings of the deal are totally in the hands of his parent club so if Shanghai Shenhua want him back, there’s nothing Man United can do about it.
The forward has time and again hinted about signing a permanent deal at Manchester United but clearly the Chinese side want him to return for the start of the new season of the Super League.
According to Daily Mail, Man United had initially taken him on loan until May 31 but now Ole is eager to extend that arrangement till August since the games will only resume in June.
FIFA have allowed the extension of contracts but in order for that to happen, all the concerned parties should agree to it. And as things stand, Shanghai Shenhua are not letting that happen.
So if the Man United hierarchy cannot get things sorted out soon enough, Odion Ighalo will have to head back to China without finishing the whole season in England and this could be a big cause of concern for Solskjaer since, upon resumption, Man United will not only be playing in the Premier League but also in the Europa League.
