Man Utd could complete shock transfer deal for striker because of coronavirus

Manchester United are looking to sign a striker before the transfer deadline.

Manchester United have been offered the chance to sign Odion Ighalo on loan before the transfer deadline and in bizarre circumstances, the Coronavirus could play a major part in the deal. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is desperate to bring in a forward before Friday’s deadline and is actively exploring short-term options.

Islam Slimani and Vedat Muriqi are among names to be linked with a loan switch to Old Trafford in recent weeks, but both deals have complications.

Another surprise name has emerged in the form of Odion Ighalo, the former Watford striker who helped fire the Hornets to promotion from the Championship.

According to The Mirror, United have been handed the chance to sign the Nigerian on loan for the rest of the season.

The 30-year-old currently plays in the Far East with Shanghai Shenhua, however the Chinese Super League has currently been suspended due to the recent outbreak of the Coronavirus.

There has been no date set on when fixtures will get back underway and Ighalo and his entourage are exploring a temporary exit.

The report claims that Ighalo is set to fly back from Europe today to try and earn a move.

United are looking for a striker after losing Marcus Rashford for up to three months.

The England international has a double stress fracture in his back, picked up in the FA Cup win over Wolves.

He will also require surgery on his ankle to remove a piece of floating bone.

That means Solskjaer wants to plug the gap by bringing someone in until the end of the campaign.

Now Ighalo has emerged as a realistically possibility, due to the situation in China.



Slimani is a player that the club like, but the deal is complicated due to his loan with Monaco from Leicester.

The Algerian wants to cut his time in Ligue 1 short so he can prove himself in the Premier League.

Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers has previously admitted that the deal would be difficult to untangle and therefore remains unlikely.

Aston Villa and Tottenham have both also looked at Slimani this month.

United had held talks with Erling Braut Haaland, but the Norwegian ended up joining Borussia Dortmund.

He’s a player that they could revisit in the future, but for now they have moved onto other targets.

A loan deal for Edinson Cavani was an attractive proposition, but Paris Saint-Germain’s asking price was unrealistic.

Maxi Gomez is a player that United have been scouting and a summer move could be on the agenda.

Source:www.express.co.uk