Premier League Rumors: Ighalo Faces New Challenge Following New United-Shenhua Deal

Manchester United and Odion Ighalo can finally breathe easy. After weeks of uncertainty, the Nigerian striker's dream of playing for his childhood team will continue until January 2021. Making it sweeter is that there is reportedly an option to buy pegged at roughly $25 million. Ighalo's deal expired on Sunday (May 31), but the 30-year-old stayed and returned to training with the rest of the Red Devils.

The finalized deal between Manchester United and Shanghai Shenhua was confirmed via the team's official website. He will now remain with the team until Jan. 30, 2021 or perhaps permanently if the financial situation improves in the coming months. Before the COVID-19 outbreak, it was widely believed that United would absorb Ighalo. Unfortunately, those plans have been temporarily shelved for now.

So far, Ighalo has accounted for four goals in eight appearances. That includes at least one strike in each of his starts against Club Brugge, Derby County and LASK. The Nigerian fit in perfectly with Marcus Rashford and Paul Pogba out injured. Both are reportedly up and about although there is no official word if Rashford and Pogba can play once the season resumes on June 17. Should they be cleared to play, it will also be interesting how Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will adjust his first team.

Though he has filled up admirably, some believe that Ighalo could be dispensable once Rashford and Pogba are back in harness. But even if Shenhua did not agree and recalled Ighalo, past rumors linked United to several players. Rather than try someone new, it made more sense to stick with Ighalo who seems comfortable with Gunnar's system.

For Ighalo, he may need to prove once more that he deserves to stay at Old Trafford. Though he proved to Solskjaer that he could fill in the void of key players the past months, the Nigerian will now have to show that he can co-exist with other stars on the field. If things pan out, the chances of him getting bought out from Shanghai Shenhua will get a boost.

If he falters, chances are he may end up returning to China by the end of January. This is assuming that COVID-19 restrictions are already loosened. It made no sense for Ighalo to return now with China employing strict measures to prevent the coronavirus from spreading further.