'He's here on merit' - Solskjaer hints Utd could extend Ighalo's stay in summer

'He's here on merit' - Solskjaer hints Utd could extend Ighalo's stay in summer

Manchester United could extend Odion Ighalo's stay at the club beyond the end of the season, according to manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

The Reds targeted a new forward in the January transfer window and Ighalo joined on a six-month loan from Shanghai Shenhua on deadline day.

He netted his first goal for United on his first start for the club in the Europa League against Club Brugge but has yet to start a game in the Premier League.

Solskjaer has praised the impact of the Nigeria international since his arrival and admitted United could consider keeping him at the club at the end of his loan spell.

The United boss believes United's younger forwards can learn from the 30-year-old.

"He's here on merit," he told Sky Sports. "He's here because he's a goal scorer and he's a different type of a striker for us.

"Of course we might get to the summer and 'yeah we want to extend this' - who knows?

"He's come in as a breath of fresh air and he's had chances - in his five minutes against Chelsea he had a great chance.

"Against Brugge, he scored. Against Watford, he had a great chance. Against Everton, he's there, he had a chance but it was a very good save.

"He doesn't miss the target very often. So it's about having that for Anthony [Martial], Marcus [Rashford] and Mason [Greenwood] to learn.

"That's where the sharks are swimming. It's comfortable outside the box where you can have a few shots, but it's in there where it might be a bit tougher and you might get hurt but that's where you get your goals."
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