It is now the battle of the fittest as Manchester United set to prepare a three-year deal worth €6million (£5.2million) per year in wages for striker Odion Ighalo, according to reports.
Ighalo, who moved to United on loan from Shanghai Greenland Shenhua on deadline day in January, has hit the ground running with four goals in eight appearances.
Indeed, the Nigerian’s strikes helped the Red Devils progress in the Europa League and FA Cup before the season was brought to a halt earlier this month.
Previous reports have suggested that Ighalo was ‘seriously flattered’ by an offer of more than £400,000 per week from Shanghai.
However, according to Italian journalist Nicolo Schria – via his Twitter account – United are trying just as hard to keep the striker at Old Trafford.
Schria claims that United want to pay €15million to buy Ighalo outright and believe that their contract offer will be enough to convince the 30-year-old to stay in England, even if he is offered more to return to China.
Ighalo‘s deal reportedly ends on May 31 – a month before the expiry date of standard loan spells – meaning United could earmark the Nigerian’s signing as a priority in the coming weeks.
Ighalo’s goals have been influential in United tallying an unbeaten run stretching 11 matches, with fellow January arrival Bruno Fernandes also playing a crucial role.
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has already signalled his intentions to make the transfer permanent.
“Odion has done really well when he’s come in and he’s enjoying himself,” Solskjaer said.
“He will improve and get better, but he has qualities that we saw in him that we needed and we’ll still need those qualities for next season so let’s see what we do.”
In other news, Portugal international Fernandes has expressed his desire to match his compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo’s achievements at United.
Read Also:Ighalo wins Man Utd’s goal of the month award
Ronaldo became one of the world’s best players during his time at Old Trafford, where he won silverware including the Premier League and Champions League.
The post Man Utd table lucrative £5.2m per year wages for Ighalo to beat off Chinese interest appeared first on Sporting Life.