Ighalo wants to stay
Odion Ighalo wants to extend his loan with Manchester United until the end of the Premier League season.
Shanghai Shenhua striker Ighalo, 30, is contracted to United on loan until May 31 and could be recalled by his parent club with the Chinese Super League now due to start in June or July. The Premier League is aiming to restart next month but is yet to receive permission from the government.
United are open to extending Ighalo's stay after he scored four goals in eight appearances, but only moved for the Nigerian after Marcus Rashford suffered a double stress fracture to the back in mid-January and the England international is fit again.
Ighalo said last month he was open to signing for United on a permanent basis but had not received an offer and has reiterated that remains the case.
"I would like to finish the season if it's possible," Ighalo told the BBC World Service. "I was in good form, good shape, scoring goals and now we've stopped for over a month. I've given it my best and hopefully we'll come back to play."
Solskjaer happy with squad amid transfer uncertainty
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admits the next transfer window will be unrecognisable from previous years as clubs readjust after the coronavirus crisis.
Manchester United had lined up deals for Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho and Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish before football in England was suspended on March 13 , and the transfer window is due to be pushed back from its original opening date of June 1.
United are in a financially stronger situation than most Premier League clubs and Solskjaer previously said they could 'exploit' the market, with Grealish's valuation set to plummet amid financial uncertainty at Villa and their possible relegation. Sancho could also be cheaper as he is approaching the last two years of his contract with Dortmund.
Despite United's intention to reinforce their attack, executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward warned they are not 'immune' from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and Solskjaer anticipates a 'completely different' summer window to previous editions.
"I think Mason [Greenwood], Anthony [Martial] and Marcus [Rashford] this season have been fantastic," Solskjaer told Sky Sports. "They've scored upwards of 50 goals, the three of them.
"Marcus was on course for his best season, Anthony was on course for his best season, Mason, of course, is just a unique talent, with his goalscoring abilities.
"But we're always looking to improve the squad and this uncertainty in the market now, who knows how football is going to be and how the market is going to be. But I'm very happy with the squad I've got."
IFAB approves FIFA's substitute proposal
The International Football Association Board will allow teams to make five substitutions per match when football returns after approving a proposal by FIFA.
The move is to help sides returning from football's coronavirus-enforced break.
The rule will be in place for competitions scheduled to be completed this year but FIFA said it will assess with IFAB whether it should be extended into 2021.
Each team will be limited to three stoppages per match for substitutions, not including half-time, in a bid to prevent unnecessary stoppages.
Although IFAB has given the green light to the five-substitution rule, the decision on whether to apply it will remain at the discretion of the Premier League and each individual competition organiser around the world.
