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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer values Odion Ighalo’s positivity as Manchester United weigh up permanent transfer


Solskjaer appreciates Ighalo’s attitude (Picture: Getty)

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been impressed by Odion Ighalo’s positivity and effect on his team-mates as Manchester United boss considers a permanent transfer for the striker, reports say.

Ighalo has exceeded expectations since joining United on loan from Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua in January, scoring four times for the Red Devils.

United would like to extend Ighalo’s six-month loan deal amid the coronavirus pandemic, but Shanghai have made their move to bring the Nigerian back to China.

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Ighalo has been offered a £400,000-a-week deal by Shanghai and are so far refusing to allow United to extend his loan.

The Evening Standard claim Solskjaer is yet to make up his mind about whether to make Ighalo’s move permanent after Shanghai said United had to buy the striker outright to keep him beyond the expiration of his loan deal.

Ighalo has been a huge hit with his team-mates and one of things that has impressed Solskjaer most about the goalscorer is his positivity and the effect that has had on the squad.

Fellow January signing Bruno Fernandes has also made a big impact on the morale of the United squad, but Solskjaer is weighing up his options when it comes to Ighalo.

Lyon striker Moussa Dembele, RB Leipzig star Timo Werner and Wolves frontman Raul Jimenez are all targets for United and would be better long-term options for Solskjaer’s team.

United would have to fork out £15million for the goalscorer, who turns 31 in June and Ighalo would also have to take a significant pay cut to join from Shanghai.

Ighalo has already been quizzed on the uncertainty of his loan deal, but brushed off the concerns amid the public health crisis.

He said: ‘Talking about other things now will not only be selfish but terribly insensitive. I don’t even think about it.

‘The challenge before us now is not a football one, but a global one.

‘You can’t put football before health challenges. What matters right now is to keep safe and pray for those battling with the virus to recover fully.

‘This is another reminder for us to share love in this world. Continue to show kindness to one another because a problem facing one is a problem to all.’

MORE: Paul Merson sends message to Odion Ighalo over permanent Man Utd transfer move

MORE: Shanghai Shenhua set price for Manchester United to buy Odion Ighalo and will rebuff attempts to extend loan

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