Former Manchester United player Gary Neville has advised Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and the entire Manchester united management against the purchase of Odion Ighalo for a permanent deal this summer as he doubts the Nigerian is worth £20million despite his fine form in his first eight games which saw the former Nigerian international scoring four goals in eight matches.
The 30-year-old signed for United on deadline day in January in a shock loan move from Shanghai Shenhua and the move drew criticism, particularly as Solskjaer had been keen on Norwegian wonderkid Erling Haaland.
To prove critics wrong, Ighalo had to silence his doubters with a string of fine performances for his boyhood club and Solskjaer is keen to make the move a permanent one after the Nigerian scored four goals in eight appearances.
But that decision was made before the coronavirus pandemic hit the world and club finances are set to be hit in a way they never have before this summer. With the outbreak of corona virus pandemic, as well as the purse strings tightening across Europe, Neville doubts United can afford to spend £20m on a back-up forward and he’s told Solskjaer to back out of a move.
In the words of the Manchester united legend, ‘Is ighalo worth £20m?’ said Neville. ‘Probably not in this market. He may have been if he continued before scoring goals but you probably don’t need now to spend £20m’.
United’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward insisted last month that the club are not immune from the financial impact of the virus and said there will be implications at Old Trafford like there will be elsewhere.
Newcastle united however, are interested in the nations cup bronze medalist and are interested in meeting the price tag as they prepare to storm Europe in a spending spree next term.
