What is Odion Ighalo’s future at Manchester United?

From being a fan boy to donning the iconic red shirt, from the streets of Ajegunle to performing in front of 76,000 loyal supporters, from a family who couldn’t even have a subscription for a sports channel to playing for the biggest club in the world, Odion Ighalo is certainly, living a dream.

Recent reports have suggested that Shanghai Shenhua expect Odion Ighalo to return in time for the start of the new Chinese Super League, which begins in July. And that Odion can remain at Old Trafford only if Man United make a permanent move for him, which could cost them upwards of £20 million. As of now Manchester United have not laid any offers on the table. That’s where the question comes in. Do we get him? Or don’t we?

Manchester United’s failed attempt at landing Erling Håland’s signature, along with the deficiencies in attack due to the absence of Marcus Rashford owing to his injury and the not-so-consistent run of Antony Martial, and the too young to be depended on Mason Greenwood, was what prompted Ole Gunnar Solskjær to go calling for Odion Ighalo,a quick reinforcement to an already depleted squad.

Pundits and fans, both alike couldn’t hold back from questioning this move. Infact anyone who has a bit of footballing sense in them, would have doubted it. “ Does Odion Ighalo have it in him to play for a club like Manchester United? Can he cope with the tempo of the Premier league after playing for a couple of years in the Chinese Super League? Should Manchester United have gone for a player who is visibly coming to the end of his career in China?” and more.

Turned out that, Odion proved all his critics wrong. Infact he managed to raise quite a good number of eyebrows. In 8 appearances for Manchester United Ighalo has scored 4 and made 1 and is still to make a Premier league full debut.(for United) His minutes per goal contribution in all competitions in the seasons he played in the Premier league are given below.

2015/16 – Watford – 147.04 min/goal contributed (18goals and 5 assists in 3382mins played)
2016/17 – Watford – 481.6 min/goal contributed (2goals and 1 assist in 1445mins played)
2019/20 – Man Utd – 63.6 min/goal contributed (4goals and 1 assist in 318mins played)

Indicating a steep rise in his turnover rate, which is more than twice his previous best.
But does Ole need to shell out 20 million for a 32 year old back-up striker? It’s transparent that he has brought a different aspect of his game to the club which could be well utilized. A pure out and out striker unlike Martial, and a clinical goal poacher with a respectable minutes/goal contribution and a good physique. That thumper of a goal against LASK to juggle it twice and bang it in on an half-volley and the impressive work he did to set up the Mctominay screamer in the derby to send Old Trafford bouncing shows how valuable an asset he is to the squad.

But is that sufficient enough to tempt the board to dish out 20 million for him? Or is it better to secure a young European Striker like Timo Werner to bolster the attack whom the club could rely on, at the least five years?

Whatever it is Odion Ighalo has and will have lived a dream by then. And for the Old Trafford faithful he will be remembered in the history books just like the brief but impactful loan spells of Henrik Larsson in 2007, Les Sealey in 1989 and Laurie Cunningham in 1983.