Odion Ighalo set to leave Man Utd this week with loan coming to end as talks with Shanghai Shenhua over extension stall
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MANCHESTER UNITED are set to lose Odion Ighalo this week as talks with Shanghai Shenhua over extending the stay have stalled, according to reports.
The Nigerian, 30, made a last-ditch loan move to Old Trafford in January as emergency cover in attack to replace injured Marcus Rashford.
His contract with the Red Devils runs until May 31, four days after the Europa League final was scheduled to take place.
With the season suspended, SunSport reported that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wanted to extend the loan spell by a further three months to take in the end of the season.
But his parent club Shanghai Shenhua have so far rejected that proposal – and want him back to start preparations for their new season which is due to kick-off in late June.
And according to , the Chinese Super League team are unwilling to budge on their stance.
Instead, they want to tie the former Watford man down to a new contract in China.
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His current £400,000-per-week deal expires at the end of 2021.
So with his loan set to end, Ighalo will leave his beloved Manchester United on Sunday.
United paid a £3million loan fee to the Chinese club in January and also agreed to pay around £130,000 of his weekly wages.
Ighalo has made it clear he wants to finish the season at Old Trafford after scoring four goals in eight matches prior to the campaign being stopped due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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Sources at United insist ta permanent deal has not been discussed – despite reports that a £20m fee was on the cards.
United’s stance has now changed with Rashford fit to return again after the double stress fracture in his back.
Solskjaer was keen to keep Ighalo on for the final matches of the season as the Red Devils chase a Champions League spot and Europa League glory – but it now looks unlikely.
