25 May 2020 22:43:53
Hi Ed,

I was wondering what the latest situation is with Ighalo? Can you see us extending his loan until the end of the season?
I’d like him with us for the run in and think he’s had a good impact. Thanks.

{Ed002's Note - Manchester United would like to but his club want a sale or return.}

1.) 25 May 2020
25 May 2020 23:31:48
Just on that point Ed002, are the club still considering signing him permanently or have they got different targets for cf?

{Ed002's Note - Signing him is a viable, and cost effective, solution.}

2.) 25 May 2020
25 May 2020 23:49:19
Thanks Ed. Hopefully they can sort something, although time is a factor with him due to return to China next week. Think he's done well in the games he's played and I honestly think he'd be a decent signing.

{Ed002's Note - He is a very viable option.}

3.) 26 May 2020
26 May 2020 08:47:57
Given the financial implications of C.V., signing Ighalo would make sense. He had made a positive impact since his arrival.

4.) 26 May 2020
26 May 2020 16:41:09
I think the club like all others will have to look at finances this summer and whilst we may be in a good position compared to others I don't believe we will go silly. It would be great to bring in a Werner (I think he is headed elsewhere) but if we are committed to Martial up top and bringing on Greenwood I think we could do a lot worse than Ighalo (Fee and weekly salary dependent) .

5.) 27 May 2020
27 May 2020 08:34:04
I am sure i read somewhere that Werner was almost a certainty to sign for Liverpool. This was months and months ago well before C.V.

6.) 27 May 2020
27 May 2020 11:47:52
Yeah. Based on what I've seen on the Liverpool page, seems his head has been turned after being tapped up/ illegally approached by Klopp.

7.) 27 May 2020
27 May 2020 12:29:19
Clearly Ole has a lot of faith in Martial, and if he can stay fit he is a very good player. He links well with Rashford and Bruno (recently), and can be a very good player for us. He is only 24.

I think from what I've seen our future centre forward is Mason Greenwood, and I think he could challenge for that position much sooner than many people think. He has 12 goals in 15 starts for the club, mostly played as a wide player, and only turned 18 last October.

Rashford has been a first choice player for the last three years, he turned 22 last October. From what I've seen Greenwood is more naturally gifted than Rashford, so if he keeps his feet on the ground, avoids injury and works hard there is no reason why Greenwood won't be a first choice player before he is 20.

So with that in mind, does it really make sense to sign a player who is 23/ 24 around the same age as Martial who'll just place an extra body in the way of Greenwood.

We need a player with experience who can rotate with Martial up front for a year or two while Greenwood gets games maybe from a wider role, or in rotation. Before Greenwood is ready to challenge for that starting spot.

So we need a player who is 29/ 30 at their peak, but won't be a long term problem.

In that sense Odion Ighalo makes a lot of sense, he is happy to not be first choice every week, has a great attitude, is the right profile of striker and the right age. Beyond Ighalo we could maybe look at Raul Jimenez as an option, or Wissam Ben Yedder could be a good choice.

But Ighalo would pip them for me as he is already part of the squad and settled.