Manchester United agreed to extend Odion Ighalo’s loan for another seven months, with Shanghai Shenhua set to receive £10.5m from the Red Devils.
Ighalo sealed a deadline day loan move from Shanghai to Manchester United in January, and he was supposed to say until the end of May.
But with the 2019/2020 season yet to be completed due to the coronavirus, United held talks with Shanghai over extending Ighalo’s loan deal.
Initially, the Chinese club rejected the idea as they also want Ighalo back for the start of Chinese Super League season.
However, the club changed their stance when it was realised that Ighalo would not be able to start the season with them as the Chinese government will not issue emergency visas for players in the Chinese Super League.
With Shanghai changing their position, The Red Devils were able to extend Ighalo’s deal till the end of January 2021.
However, according to the Dailymail, the new deal will cost United £10.5m (₦5.7b) including the ex-Super Eagles star’s wages. United will pay Shanghai £6m loan fee, while they will also pay half of Ighalo’s £300,000 -a -week wages.
The former Nigeria international accepted a pay cut to join United, and he’s currently earning £130,000 per week at Old Trafford.
Ighalo decided to stay at United even though Shanghai reportedly offered him a new contract worth £400,000 every week. It remains unclear if the offer will still be available when he returns to China at the end of January.