Odion Ighalo: Manchester United player on loan until the end of the season

arnie_ni

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He’s outperformed my expectations.

Question though. This was a [relative] masterstroke to identify & secure his signature but why didn’t we push for an option in the contract to extend or sign at a reasonable price.

Maybe his club only ever saw this as a short term deal & intended to bring him back all along but I worry we may have missed a trick here - finding a replacement won’t be easy.
The chinese league had finished. We signed him on a short term loan once we had a few injuries. It was only ever supposed to be short term
 

limerickcitykid

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It doesn't work that way. He's been here and we know he fits the team extremely well.

We've all learned by now the latest shiny toy doesn't always translate into a good Manchester United player. It could be difficult to find somebody who fits his role in the team.
Spending £300k on average players is how it doesn’t work. Hence why we aren’t signing him and why we also didn’t spend crazy money to keep Ander, and even he was better than average. Nor do we ever spend crazy money on average 30 year olds. Because it doesn’t work that way.

What we’ve learned by now is to stop spending stupid money on average players and thankfully, we won’t.
 

Ali Dia

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His wages in China are just too crazy to match. If he was going to be on 120k a week and for £15 million pounds I’d take him. He fits in well with the group and with a good player hopefully coming in on the right he’ll get lots of chances, especially if he stays aggressive and hungry. I’d like to keep him but I wouldn’t pay any more than that. I’d swap him for Sanchez if the Chinese were into that. No question.
 

limerickcitykid

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Agree. He is not near Manchester United level. Unless we want to remain a 4th 5th 6th finishing team that is.
Well we need to actually get to 3-4th before worrying about challenging for the title. His level is fine for a back up at the moment. If he was available on a free he’d be a decent enough signing. What’s not fine though is spending £20m plus and high wages on an average backup player with zero resale value. It’s a role that can be filled by any mid-table striker who can be fit for far more reasonable prices.
 

PoTMS

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Shame but we could and should do better than Ighalo really. Not totally convinced we have a good enough striker in Martial. I'd be very happy with Werner.
 

Green_Red

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Agree. He is not near Manchester United level. Unless we want to remain a 4th 5th 6th finishing team that is.
Yea but no one would expect him to be in the starting XI if the whole squad is fit. As an option in the squad he brings something different. That's options that we always need. He would fit in as a squad player in that case. Unfortunately as much as I think that I dont believe he is worth the money that Chinese clubbwould be looking for. I just dont agree with your assessment he isn't United level. He would definitely fit in at the right transfer price.
 

RedDevil@84

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He scored a few times against lower league opposition who we destroyed. Exactly what a bang average player would do, one that doesn’t cost over £300k a week.
Where did this 300k come from? Is it an assumption that he will not sign a contract below that value or did someone say so?
 

sglowrider

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go on then, name 12 players who could perform the role Ighalo would.

a decent no. 9, who is happy with being a squad players for a couple of seasons, who can slot on and out when required, has premier league experience and has the right mentality for the role.

also clearly needs to be available?

shoot.
He's the Nigerian Sergio Romero.
 

manutddjw

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I really liked him. The best thing about him was he was completely different to Rashford and Martial which gives us another option should we ever need it. In contrast there’s the Joshua King links who is a lesser version of what we have in abundance. This all has to be posturing by the Chinese. They just came out with a very modest salary cap but somehow they’re going to pay that much for Ighalo? I don’t buy it.
 

Number32

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Yep. If football was based on who had the best reserve team, we'd clean up. Unfortunately, it's not.
We could argue Ferguson-Queiroz were briliant, but in early 2000's Arsenal had the best starting IX and we had the best reserve team in the league.

So basically having the best reserve team in the league is not a bad idea for the title race.
 

11101

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Spending £300k on average players is how it doesn’t work. Hence why we aren’t signing him and why we also didn’t spend crazy money to keep Ander, and even he was better than average. Nor do we ever spend crazy money on average 30 year olds. Because it doesn’t work that way.

What we’ve learned by now is to stop spending stupid money on average players and thankfully, we won’t.
Where are you getting this 20m or 300k/week figure from? Nobody is suggesting we break the bank for him but he has been a very effective stop gap who will not be as easy to replace as you think.
 

Nickelodeon

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I'll be disappointed if we're unable to continue his spell. But part of his charm was also knowing what a bargain he was. Even though the beginning was quite good, there is no real evidence whether we should splurge the reported 20+ million and huge wages on him. It'll be sad to see him leave after this brief cameo but it seems like the logical decision.
 

limerickcitykid

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Where did this 300k come from? Is it an assumption that he will not sign a contract below that value or did someone say so?
Based on people saying we should sign him for £20m on a two year deal. That averages to £200k a week plus his £100-150k salary he’ll likely demand. Spending an insane amount of money on a short term backup player with no resale is nothing short of mental.
 

limerickcitykid

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Where are you getting this 20m or 300k/week figure from? Nobody is suggesting we break the bank for him but he has been a very effective stop gap who will not be as easy to replace as you think.
From the several posts suggesting we sign him for £20m on a two year deal. As well as the multiple reports that it would cost at least £20m.

Hes played a couple games against lower league opposition. He could be replaced with ease by any mid-table striker available for far less.
 

Mr Anderson

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From the several posts suggesting we sign him for £20m on a two year deal. As well as the multiple reports that it would cost at least £20m.

Hes played a couple games against lower league opposition. He could be replaced with ease by any mid-table striker available for far less.
That and his club know they have us over a barrel, pay up or we will take him back. He'd have taken a wage-cut to stay though - but would still be 100k for sure.

He has great work ethic, really tried to prove his worth - bit of a Henrik Larsson moment, fans acknowledging his efforts.

Agree here to, for that money and in this climate, money can be spent sensibly on other options - for someone 2 or 3 years younger even.
 

SilentWitness

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Feel sorry for him more than United in this situation. He was living his dream and it was cut short through no fault of his own. Definitely is not worth spending loads of money on a transfer fee or wages but he was a good back-up striker and you'll miss him if you pick up a few injuries.
 

#07

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From the several posts suggesting we sign him for £20m on a two year deal. As well as the multiple reports that it would cost at least £20m.

Hes played a couple games against lower league opposition. He could be replaced with ease by any mid-table striker available for far less.
Is there anyone else in our squad who can hold up the ball the way Ighalo did at the end of the City game?

After Mahrez came on they were all over us. We were hanging on, punting it out of defence and then seeing it come straight back. As soon as Ighalo came on he bullied City's defenders and the ball stuck to his foot like velcro (instead of bouncing off Lukaku style!)

Few games against lower league opposition? Some short memories here I tell you.

Between now and the end of the season we will drop points because we don't have anyone like Ighalo to bring on when we're under pressure and play off of. Mark my words.
 

shabz

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I think we should try to sign him on a permanent deal. He knows he would be a squad player but can make an impact of the bench. He loves the club and has been a boyhood fan and would give his all, if the money is fair then I don't see why it would be a difficult transfer to make.
 

romufc

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From the several posts suggesting we sign him for £20m on a two year deal. As well as the multiple reports that it would cost at least £20m.

Hes played a couple games against lower league opposition. He could be replaced with ease by any mid-table striker available for far less.
You are on here saying it would cost £20m which is too much, yet whenever a poser has questioned you about which player would fit this criteria, you ignore it.

You have in this post said he could be easily replaced by any mid table striker? Go on, give us names.
 

RedDevilRoshi

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Meh, Rashford should be back anyway so it doesn't matter.
As we seen this season, what happens if both him & Martial pick up injuries? We are back to square one again with no focal point in the team.

Also Rashford is far more effective down the left than he is through the middle.

If the money was fair then I was hoping we can/could keep Ighalo for a shorter while longer. Even though he knows he will be a squad player, he always made an impact when called upon. Always gave his all when called upon.

Then again, could Greenwood step up?
 

Skills

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As we seen this season, what happens if both him & Martial pick up injuries? We are back to square one again with no focal point in the team.

Also Rashford is far more effective down the left than he is through the middle.

If the money was fair then I was hoping we can/could keep Ighalo for a shorter while longer. Even though he knows he will be a squad player, he always made an impact when called upon. Always gave his all when called upon.

Then again, could Greenwood step up?
And what if our whole squad gets struck down by coronavirus, then what? It's stupid to plan a squad that deep, it's a waste of money and resources - especially for the type of money he's reportedly earning.

If it turns out we can't rely on Rashford's fitness anymore, we'll need a permanent solution to the problem rather than a stop-gap like Ighalo anyway.
 

imamuppet

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Can see those who know nothing about football, never mind not knowing what it takes to be a Manchester United player.

Far more important than ability is to have the mind set to be a Manchester United player and Ighalo has that in abundance!

I for one will be sorry to see him go, the reasoning is clear, but for some of those to bang on about him being an average player, well we have seen in the decades gone by that players who were deemed by some far above bang average come here, but did not have the mentality to be a Manchester United player ...................
 

limerickcitykid

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You are on here saying it would cost £20m which is too much, yet whenever a poser has questioned you about which player would fit this criteria, you ignore it.

You have in this post said he could be easily replaced by any mid table striker? Go on, give us names.
Almost like I have a job and don’t care about replying to every shit post in here acting like Ighalo is some amazing player.

My job isn’t to negotiate transfers for United. Why would I know the prices of every player? If Ighalo is so amazing and so worth more than £20m then why aren’t we buying him? Go on, give us reasons.
 

romufc

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Almost like I have a job and don’t care about replying to every shit post in here acting like Ighalo is some amazing player.

My job isn’t to negotiate transfers for United. Why would I know the prices of every player? If Ighalo is so amazing and so worth more than £20m then why aren’t we buying him? Go on, give us reasons.
I don't think anyone on here posting is acting as if Ighalo is amazing. They have all rated him for what he is. A good backup option to Martial.

Yes, we all know your job is not to negotiate transfers for United.. no one said it was. Then why are you throwing out figures? So you know Ighalo's want for wages and price to label him expensive?

I am not saying Ighalo is amazing am I? People like you are quick to criticise and throw up figures but when question hide behind "I am not the negotiator" or "It isn't my job to find players".

And your point about re-sale value, the club model is not to make money on players, if we signed Ighalo for £15-20m and got CL and challenged for the title, it would be money well spent.

But you say any mid table striker can do the job? Would you take Burnley's strikers as backup then?
 

Chipper

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Think there's a good chance they only loaned him to us because of Coronavirus so it's kind of funny it followed him and scuppered his time here too.

Chinese League was due to start on February 22nd, it gets suspended on January 30th and we loan him the day after. At least he got to fulfill a dream and it was nice having him here. I was more keen on Rondon out of the potential loan moves from Chinese clubs that were touted, and again Rondon was probably only a possibility because of the virus but I think we got the right one in the end.
 

Mylock

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Feel sorry for him more than United in this situation. He was living his dream and it was cut short through no fault of his own. Definitely is not worth spending loads of money on a transfer fee or wages but he was a good back-up striker and you'll miss him if you pick up a few injuries.
I don't feel sorry for him, he got to play for United, never lost a game, got to score for us and is getting a pay rise from his current club. Lucky Guy.
 

Mr Anderson

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I don't think anyone on here posting is acting as if Ighalo is amazing. They have all rated him for what he is. A good backup option to Martial.

Yes, we all know your job is not to negotiate transfers for United.. no one said it was. Then why are you throwing out figures? So you know Ighalo's want for wages and price to label him expensive?

I am not saying Ighalo is amazing am I? People like you are quick to criticise and throw up figures but when question hide behind "I am not the negotiator" or "It isn't my job to find players".

And your point about re-sale value, the club model is not to make money on players, if we signed Ighalo for £15-20m and got CL and challenged for the title, it would be money well spent.

But you say any mid table striker can do the job? Would you take Burnley's strikers as backup then?
We also need to be sensible and realise that at least 20mill (these are heavily reported fees, they'd laugh at 15mill) for someone to act backup and at the age he is might not be the best business to do right now. We are in a strong financial position compared to other clubs - but we cant deny this will also effect how the club will do their dealings.

That is what most are getting at here. The market will be taking a drastic hit - no need to rush into a signing here at all. As the weeks go on, clubs will be hit harder and harder, where we can try take advantage.

I'd like to keep Igahlo - good energy about him and he clearly loves being here and enjoying every moment - but the terms have to be right in this climate 20+mill non-starter, with no guarantee of what type of football is coming back and when, is currently not.
 

dal

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I’ve seen in this thread the argument that rashford is back and that’s ridiculous

Ighalo looked like the only proper striker we have when he played. Yes we need to see him against better opposition but it was clear his hold up play and touch was really really good.

We brought him because aside from depth he gives us a different way to play.

Id always choose a sub striker like him. Hungry, great attitude, has very good ability and can change a game and won’t moan too much.

I mean I’d like to keep him for 3-4 years while greenwood develops and martial is hopefully sold and replaced.
 

Adisa

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Whatever the case, it doesn't sound like we are looking to sign him permanently.
 

RUCK4444

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I reckon he will stay, I think Ole will he really pushing for it and the board will back it.

I don’t mind, I want him to stay (as most others do.) I just want to ensure we get Sancho signed above all else.
 

Nou_Camp99

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Hope he gets to stay until the end. He deserves it for the promising start he made.

Imagine him bagging a vital goal or two on route to an FA cup or Europa League trophy.

Cant underestimate the fact he settled quickly and got goals. Better players than him have come to us and failed so credit to him.

Viva Igahlo!!!!