Nigerian striker Odion Ighalo may have his loan spell at English Premier League club, Manchester United, extended.

The striker joined the Red Devils in January on the deadline day for transfer from Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua.

The Nigerian striker’s contract with Shanghai Shenhua runs till next year, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer side has the opportunity to sign him permanently.

However, while it hasn’t been confirmed if he will be signed permanently by the Manchester team, Ighalo’s deal will finish at the end of May (May 31), but a report has it that the coronavirus pandemic which has caused a shutdown across Europe could make the loan deal extended till June 30.

His parent club, Shanghai Shenhua are expectant of his return back to China once his loan deal ends but reports claim they are willing to accept a €15 Million deal to sell him to the Premier League club while they have also made plans to sign a replacement for him.

The Nigerian striker who has played for Watford in the Premier League before now has scored 4 times in eight games across all competitions for United.

For the Hornets, whom he featured  from 2014 till 2017 where he scored 40 times and made 11 assists in 100 matches.

Meanwhile, Shanghai Shenhua are planning to bring a fellow Nigerian striker Obafemi Martins as a replacement for Odion Ighalo.

Martins previously played for Newcastle and Birmingham in the English Premier League, and he has also featured for Shanghai Shenhua for two years, from 2016 to 2018.

The Chinese Super League has not started its 2020 season due to Coronavirus pandemic although there are speculations about a possible start towards the end of April or early May as China recovers from the deadly Coronavirus.

Written by:  Daniel Ademiju Idowu