Premier League Rumors: Ighalo Badly Wanted To Join Man Utd, Sacrifices Big Money

KEY POINTS

Ighalo agreed to a pay cut to play for Manchester United
Ighalo is on loan although there is an option to buy for Man Utd.
Anthony Martial future is at risk if he is unable to get his act together

Manchester United has plenty of work to do as it tries to get its act together under the watch of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Adding the right players is essential and it appears they may have nabbed an important piece in Nigerian striker Odion Ighalo.

Though he will be just on loan, the addition of the 30-year-old striker is considered big. Ighalo plays for the Shanghai Shenhua team in the Chinese Super League (CSL) but games were suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak. Even better, the loan includes an option by the Red Devils to buy the Nigerian striker, Sky Sports reported.
Ighalo has a lot going for him. He has been sensational in his three seasons with the CSL and also owns 16- and 20- Premier League seasons under his belt. Without question, he is expected to be an added boost to Manchester United, NBC Sports reported.

However, Ighalo needed to agree to a big pay-cut to make it all work. Despite his rising stars, the striker had no qualms about it and did not care. It appears fulfilling a dream to be with Man Utd was all that mattered to him, making the move smoother.

“He said, ‘You’re going to get a pay cut to go to United.’ I said, ‘I don’t care. Make this deal happen. I want to go to United. I don’t care how much is the pay cut. I know that, make it happen,” shared Ighalo in a report from the Guardian.

With Ighalo on board, there is a chance that some of the current players' fate could be at risk. A Red Devil singled out is Anthony Martial, one of United's worst performers recently against Wolverhampton, Goal.com reported. He has been struggling and Martial is not denying it.

A key thing for Martial is the need to adjust. Though he was seen as the Red Devils' natural finishers in the box, Juan Mata and Daniel James have clogged up the middle. Also, the Manchester defense has contributed to making life hard for the Frenchman.

Bruno Fernandes was someone he could play off but things have hardly worked out. Martial has been given plenty of chances this season. With Ighalo on board, the 24-year-old forward needs to get his act together if he does not want his future with Manchester United to be at risk.