Manchester United’s hopes of signing Odion Ighalo on a permanent deal have been given a boost after his parent club Shanghai Shenhua reportedly identified his replacement.
The Chinese club are interested in bringing former Inter Milan and
Newcastle striker Martins back to the club, according to The
Independent.
The 30-year-old Nigerian forward enjoyed a
fruitful spell with Shenhua from 2016 until 2018, scoring 32 goals in 59
games before suffering a torn hamstring.
Ighalo has proved a surprise hit at Old Trafford since signing on loan in January, scoring four goals in three starts.
With
the Chinese Super League postponed as the country attempted to deal
with the Covid-19 outbreak that originated in Wuhan, the 30-year-old was
allowed to make a shock deadline-day move to Old Trafford in January.
Ighalo
underwent a 14-day quarantine period before linking up with United, who
are unlikely to be playing anytime soon as the coronavirus pandemic has
seen Premier League action suspended until at least the end of April.
And
Igahlo’s deal only runs to the end of May and while United reportedly
hold the option to make the move permanent, the transfer windows and
player contract situation remains up in the air as FIFA look at
solutions.
Reports last week suggested Ighalo has also been offered a new £400,000-a-week deal by Shenhua to remain in China.
Meanwhile, United are also confident of landing top transfer target Saul Niguez from Atletico Madrid.
The
Daily Star reports that the Spain midfielder is being seen as the
perfect replacement for Paul Pogba by United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
and executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward, with any move seeing the
25-year-old replace Pogba as the club’s most expensive player ever.
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