Odion Ighalo trains with mystery female partner as Man Utd ace exercises in public park with future uncertain
MANCHESTER UNITED star Odion Ighalo was pictured with a mystery female training partner as he exercised in a public park in Cheshire.
The on-loan forward's Old Trafford future is hanging in the balance with Shanghai Shenhua looking to snare the Nigerian back when his deal expires at the end of May.
On Monday the 30-year-old took to a local Cheshire park to get his sweat on with a mystery gal ahead of the top flight's potential return on June 1.
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The United star looked sharp and was dressed head to toe in Old Trafford gear, including his No.25 shorts.
In between various gruelling training drills the loan ace chatted with the woman - who was also dressed in workout clothes.
The Nigeria marksman kindly took time out of his exercise session to sign an autograph for a fan who chucked a note pad and pen to the striker, while abiding by the strict social distancing rules.
A local pooch even decided to get involved and ran alongside the forward as he blasted out sprinting drills, which are likely to have been sent to the ace by boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Cultural and sporting events will be allowed to take place without fans to avoid the risk of large-scale social contact but they will be broadcast.
Premier League chiefs are meeting today to discuss how to proceed - but Ighalo might not be around for much longer as Shanghai look to prise him back to the Chinese Super League which is set to commence in July.
The Red Devils were hopeful of hashing out out an agreement with Shanghai to keep Ighalo at the club if and when 'Project Restart' finally gets the go-ahead.
But the Chinese side will reportedly only let the Nigerian star stay if United pay £20million for a permanent deal.
Ighalo has a new two-year contract offer on the table at Shanghai worth a staggering £400,000-a-week.
The Red Devils are keen to sign Ighalo following his scintillating form, with four goals in his last five matches but Ed Woodward is determined not to break the bank on new deals.
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Newcastle are also eyeing a swoop if their proposed takeover is completed.
The Toon are set to become the wealthiest football team in the world if the Saudi Investment Fund's £300million offer goes through.
However Ighalo loves United and wants to extent his loan stint with his boyhood club until the Premier League is over - whenever that may be.