According to a recent report by French news source FootMercato, European giants Paris Saint-Germain are said to have opened dialogue with the representatives of Manchester United’s Nigerian international striker Odion Ighalo, over the possibility of a potential move to Paris this summer. The report suggests that the Shanghai Shenhua loanee has impressed the chiefs at PSG and that they view him as a good back-up option to Mauro Icardi, whose loan deal from Inter Milan has recently been made permanent as well.
Although the report has clarified that PSG are interested in Manchester United’s Odion Ighalo, whether or not they’ll actually get their man remains to be seen. The Nigerian is said to be one of the names on the Parisian club’s striker shortlist as a potential replacement for the recently departed Edinson Cavani. It has further been claimed that first contact has already been made between the Ligue 1 side’s sporting director and the attacker’s representatives.
How Has Ighalo Done Since His Move To Manchester?
One thing that can be said with certainty is that very few pundits would’ve predicted at the start of last season’s January transfer window that Manchester United would be signing former Watford man Odion Ighalo on a loan deal from China.
A few months down the line though, and that move is now beginning to look like a stroke of genius. Although he hasn’t been able to nail down a place in the first-team, the Nigerian offers Ole Gunnar Solskjaer a solid plan B in attack. The attacker’s desire to play for Manchester United has been no secret, and the kind of spirit he shows while on the pitch is commendable as well.
Probably best described as the quintessential European target man, Ighalo is adept at holding the ball up and bringing teammates into the game in attacking areas of the pitch. Ighalo tends to offer quite the presence inside the opposition box, and he has got the quality required to finish from a variety of positions and angles. Boasting a deft turn in the opposition’s final third as well, Ighalo’s five goals in the FA Cup and the Europa League were essential to the progress that they actually made. Moreover, his presence came as a massive blessing when Marcus Rashford faced a spell injured on the sidelines.
What Makes Ighalo A Good Option For PSG?
In Mauro Icardi, PSG have one of the best finishers in the world in their roster, but depending on the Argentine for the entirety of the season would be like asking for trouble. The role that Edinson Cavani had been fulfilling in Paris last season is now vacant, and the staff reportedly view Ighalo as the ideal option. Not only would he provide them with the necessary combination of quality and experience, but he would also be available to them at a relatively nominal price, especially considering that he’s contracted to his parent club only till December 2021.
PSG Are Interested In Manchester United’s Odion Ighalo: Should Ole Tie Him Down At Old Trafford?
The Nigerian’s arrival certainly triggered a positive response from this Manchester United squad. Although he’s yet to open his account in the Premier League, the value of the goals he had scored in the other competitions simply cannot be underplayed. Few would’ve expected the former Premier League man to end up at Manchester United after turning 30, but to the shock of many, that actually occurred last season. A move to PSG would be even more far-fetched, but it can’t be written off given the current footballing environment. Ighalo hasn’t done a half-bad job since the return to England, but at the same time, he’s not done nearly enough to warrant a permanent move to the Red Devils either.
