Odion Ighalo agent breaks silence on Manchester United talks

Ighalo is on loan at United from Shanghai Shenhua but the deal is due to expire in the coming days.

Odion Ighalo's agent has spoken about his client's future for the first time since it was revealed earlier this week that the player is set to leave Manchester United at the end of his loan contract.

The Nigerian striker completed a loan move to United on January deadline day and proved an instant hit, scoring four goals in eight appearances.

But the deal, which was agreed until the end of the season, is due to expire this week, meaning Ighalo wouldn't get the chance to play in the proposed rescheduled Premier League games over the summer.

Ighalo's representative Ladi Salami, however, has given United fans fresh hope that the former Watford striker will remain at Old Trafford for a little longer.

He said an agreement to extend the loan is close, despite the fact Shanghai want Ighalo back ahead of the new Chinese Super League season, which begins in July.

"On the one hand, the Super Eagle [Nigerian] feels very good in Manchester with which it is very close to a salary agreement,’" Salami told FootMercato.

"Negotiations with the Chinese are ongoing and are going well.  On the other hand, in view of the latest regulations in force in the Middle Empire, it is almost impossible to offer such amounts."

Local media reports say Chinese Super League players who are not currently in China might not be able to return until October, with the country's borders locked down due to the coronavirus pandemic. It is not clear whether special visas would be issued to allow the likes of Ighalo to re-enter.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer gave an update on Ighalo's future on Tuesday night, insisting United were hopeful that an extension could be agreed with the club "in dialogue" with Shanghai.

He said: "It’s been a dream for him and hopefully he can finish off what he started, hopefully with a trophy for us. At the moment, nothing has been agreed. Their league is going to get started soon so we’re just waiting to see.”