FA Cup: Ole Solksjaer hopeful message to Ighalo

Manchester United head coach, Ole Gunnar Solksjaer, has passed a hopeful message to former Super Eagles striker Odion Ighalo.

Solksjaer is suggesting United could sign Ighalo on a permanent contract.

Ighalo, who joined the Man United in January on a loan deal until the end of the season as cover up for the injured Marcus Rashford, scored his first Manchester United goal in the 5-0 Europa League win over Club Bruges and then scored his second and third goals in last night’s FA Cup victory over Derby County.

And now Solksjaer says Manchester United could be so impressed by Ighalo that they take him away from Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua and give him a permanent contract.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Solksjaer said: “It doesn’t hurt [living the dream] but he’s here on merit, he’s here because he is a goalscorer and a different type of striker for us.”

He further said: “We might get to the summer and think we want to extend this, who knows? ‘He’s come in as a breath of fresh air as well. He had chances in his five minutes against Chelsea, he scored against Bruges, he had chances against Watford, he had a very good save [from a shot] against Everton – there have been good saves, he doesn’t miss the target very often.

“Even for Anthony (Martial), Mason (Greenwood) and Marcus (Rashford) to learn that it is where the sharks are swimming. It’s comfortable outside the box and you can have a few shots.

“It’s in there where it might be a bit tougher and you might get hurt – that’s where you get goals,” Solskjaer said.