Inside Man Utd’s ‘chaotic’ Ighalo transfer with striker not even having medical and club preferring Rondon
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MANCHESTER UNITED did not even put Odion Ighalo through a medical before signing the striker on loan in a "chaotic" transfer.
And the Nigerian, 30, was not even the Red Devils' first-choice Chinese Super League striker in January - with Salomon Rondon snubbing a move to Old Trafford.
As reported by , United made contact with Dalian Yifang on Thursday to enquire about taking former West Brom and Newcastle striker on loan.
It is thought the offer was given genuine consideration before Dalian and Rondon eventually turned down any offer to allow the Venezuelan to head back to the Premier League, as revealed by SunSport.
That left Manchester United still needing a striker as they headed into Deadline Day.
And it was not until 3pm - just eight hours before the transfer window closed - that they decided to sign Ighalo as executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward led negotiations with Shanghai.
The loan deal was announced just after midnight but there was not even enough time to complete a medical.
Ighalo's agent Atta Aneke - who has represented the striker for 13 years - described the brief saga as "chaotic".
He told Aftenposten, the Norwegian newspaper: "I talked to Manchester United’s top boss [Woodward] a few days in advance [of the deadline].
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"It was quiet on Thursday, and then I got the impression that nothing would happen.
";Suddenly, in the middle of the day on Friday, things started to move.
"It was then 11pm (3pm GMT) in Shanghai. It was hectic business.
"Everyone had to stay awake until 5am-6am in Shanghai.
"He has been a United supporter since childhood. It’s incredibly big.
"When he left for China, he did not expect to be brought to United as a 30-year-old."
Ighalo joined on an initial six-month loan deal for £3million, with United paying a third of his eye-watering £300,000-a-week wages.
He signed just a day after strugglers Aston Villa rejected the chance to snap Ighalo up.
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United's No1 target ahead of the January window was Erling Haaland - but he decided against joining compatriot Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and headed to Borussia Dortmund, where his fine form has continued.
Joshua King was a late target but Bournemouth refused to sell the former United youngster, while Edinson Cavani and Islam Slimani were also linked.
And their desperate need for another goalscorer following the sale of Romelu Lukaku and injury to Marcus Rashford as Solskjaer's side played out a drab 0-0 draw with Wolves.