Odion Ighalo is willing to risk missing out on a lucrative £75m contract at Shanghai Shenhua in order to pursue his boyhood dream of playing for Manchester United.
That’s according to a report in the Daily Star, who claim the Nigerian forward has been offered a three-year contract worth a staggering £480,000 per-week.
Ighalo’s short-term deal at United expires at the end of the week and the expectation was that he’d have to return to China in order to prepare for the delayed Chinese Super League season which begins next month.
But Ighalo has been playing out his footballing dream since his shock January deadline day loan switch and is desperate to remain at Old Trafford until at least the end of this season.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side will be fighting on three fronts when they resume in June and Ighalo could play an important role in offering the Norwegian an extra attacking option in the closing games as he rotates his team.
The report suggests Ighalo has made his own personal plea to Shenhua officials to stay in Manchester, but has been told his latest contract offer may have to be reviewed if he fails to return to China.
It appears that we have a couple of critical days ahead before Ighalo’s contract expiry with United ideally looking for an extension in the striker’s contract.
Ighalo will be aware that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to continue his United career and appears willing to sacrifice huge financial incentives to remain at the club for a little longer.
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