Manchester United have to accept the brutal truth about Odion Ighalo

Man Utd completed a January loan deal for Ighalo from Shanghai Shenhua but the former Watford striker is now set to depart.

There is something sad about the Odion Ighalo situation at Manchester United and how, as things stand, it is likely to end.

This was a player desperate to play for the club he has loved since his childhood, so eager to join Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side on loan in January that he took a pay cut.

Leaving the Chinese Super League behind for Old Trafford was an easy decision for a player of Ighalo's character.

And despite all the nay-sayers, he has proved a hit at United, scoring goals with unexpected regularity despite his role largely as a substitute in Solskjaer's setup. If indeed this is the end of Ighalo's United stint, with his loan deal due to expire at the end of this week, he will finish with a record that reads four goals in 349 minutes - better than one per 90 minutes.

But it was always likely to be a short-term thing. And Solskjaer knows he cannot run United on sentiment, despite his own long-lasting ties to the club and the nostalgic Sir Alex Ferguson era.

So while keeping Ighalo, 30, for a little longer would have been ideal, United's decision may have been made for them. Had it not been for the coronavirus pandemic, of course, fans would have seen Ighalo a lot more. His spell looks set to end with a whimper, rather than a bang.

It sounds brutally harsh and the Nigerian will understandably feel he has more to offer, but in terms of an Ighalo replacement, there are much better options out there for United than him.

This was put into sharp focus by the performance of Timo Werner in RB Leipzig's 5-0 victory over Mainz in the Bundesliga at the weekend. The German striker is a truly elite talent and is on the radar of a number of top European clubs right now, with United among those tracking him.

There is no suggestion, as yet, that Werner is a priority target for United as they focus on trying to complete a deal for Borussia Dortmund's Jadon Sancho. But as Werner bagged a sensational hat-trick for his club, he sent a firm message to his summer suitors: he's ready for a step up.

It's likely that Liverpool will be at the front of the pack chasing Werner, but there's no reason why United shouldn't try and pursue a deal. Their financial situation - also impacted by Covid-19 - could make sealing transfers for both Sancho and Werner difficult, but a club of United's size ought to be in the mix for such a superstar.

Their former player Owen Hargreaves sought to help United on BT Sport punditry duty by suggesting Old Trafford would be a better fit than Anfield for Werner.

"Wherever he goes, he has to play," said Hargreaves. "With the way United play right now, I could see him there. They need a number nine."

Werner is the Ruud van Nistelrooy of his day, the Dimitar Berbatov, even the Radamel Falcao. When an elite European striker has become available in the past, United have always been in the mix. This should be no different.

With respect to Ighalo, who deserves to be remembered with cult hero status by United fans, the Germany international would be a huge upgrade.

You could debate about whether Werner suits United's system better than Anthony Martial, or whereabouts both Werner and Sancho would fit into the same forward line, but you cannot question the fact that he'd improve United.

Losing Ighalo would be a blow, but it could help United take an enormous leap in the transfer market.