Here are your Manchester United evening headlines for Monday, June 1
Manchester United confirm Ighalo loan extension
Manchester United have reached an agreement with Shanghai Shenhua to keep Odion Ighalo at Old Trafford until January 2021.
Ighalo had been set to return to his parent club ahead of the delayed start of the Chinese Super League season, with his initial United loan having ended on May 31. However, after negotiations between United and Shenhua, an extension has been agreed.
Ighalo had scored four goals in eight games for the English club, who signed him on loan in January following an injury to Marcus Rashford, and had been keen to remain on the books of the club he supported as a youngster.
The agreement had effectively been due to run until the end of the Premier League season, only for the competition to be suspended in March. A resumption date of June 17 has now been confirmed, with United next in action a few days after that.
"Manchester United have reached agreement with Shanghai Greenland Shenhua to extend the loan deal for Odion Ighalo,” a club statement read.
“The Nigerian striker's stay was initially due to end on 31 May but he will now remain with the Reds until 31 January 2021, enabling him to build on an impressive start to life with the club he supported as a boy."
Saul Niguez social media announcement has Manchester United fans talking
Atletico Madrid midfielder Saul Niguez has been the target of plenty of Premier League interest in recent years, with Manchester United among the clubs previously mentioned in connection with the 25-year-old.
As a result, a fair few supporters have been excited by a cryptic statement posted by the Spaniard on social media.
"New club. I'll announce it. 3 days..." Saul tweeted. With Atletico currently outside the Champions League spots in La Liga, plenty have taken this at face value and determined he is ready to move on after more than 250 appearances for his boyhood club.
Of course, with Saul currently tied down to a long-term deal at the Wanda Metropolitano, other supporters are refusing to get too excited.
There has been speculation that this is little more than a PR move, with the impending announcement having nothing to do with where the versatile midfielder will be playing his club football next season.
Premier League resumption will allow Tuanzebe a second chance to revive Old Trafford career
Ahead of the return of Premier League football, much has been made of Paul Pogba’s second chance at Old Trafford as he returns from injury.
However, the Frenchman won’t be the only Manchester United player looking to make up for lost time.
Axel Tuanzebe impressed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in pre-season, so much so that he was given a run of games in the autumn, but a poorly timed injury has left him playing catch-up since the turn of the year.
The defender hasn’t played since December’s League Cup victory over Colchester, but is fit and ready to challenge for a starting spot alongside Harry Maguire.
With Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly impressing when given the chance in the new year, helping United solidify defensively and concede just two goals in their last 11 outings, a newly healthy Tuanzebe knows he won’t be able to walk straight back into the first team - especially given the length of time he has been out of action.
However, the impending fixture congestion will leave Solskjaer needing to use his whole squad, which means the opportunities may yet come.
