Manchester United’s attempts to extend Odion Ighalo’s loan deal has hit a brick wall with just a week to go before it expires.
Shanghai Shenhua has rejected Manchester United’s request to keep Ighalo at Old Trafford for another three months and are demanding his return to the club to prepare for the start of the delayed Chinese Super League season.
Unless Manchester United can make a late breakthrough in negotiations, Ighalo will return to Shanghai when his loan ends next week Monday.
The 30-year-old arrived at Old Trafford in January on a loan deal until the end of the season, with his his short-term contract set to expire on May 30.
The suspension of football due to Covid-19 and the consequent delay to ending the season has seen all Premier League teams agree that clubs can temporarily extend contracts of players whose deals are coming to an end this summer.
According to Goal news, Shanghai would be open to selling the former Nigeria international if United made a “reasonable” offer, but the Red Devils are looking elsewhere for a long-term reinforcement.
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Marcus Rashford has reportedly returned to full fitness after the back injury which has kept him sidelined since the start of the year, so the club are relaxed over Ighalo’s future as Solskjaer will have options when the season resumes.