Odion Ighalo is close to agreeing a deal to stay at Manchester United beyond next week, the striker's agent has revealed.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on Tuesday said Ighalo will be returning to parent club Shanghai Shenhua next week unless a last-minute deal can be reached, while Standard Sport understands the Chinese club have rejected all pursuits of a contract extension to date.
Ighalo is desperate to stay at his dream club, however, and while his parent club are determined to have the forward available for the Super League's restart, Solskjaer confirmed negotiations are underway.
“The loan deal went until the end of May now, so obviously he’s supposed to be going back," he told MUTV. “We’re in dialogue. They’ve been great towards us, his club, and allowed him to play for his dream club.
“It’s been a dream for him and hopefully he can finish off what he started, hopefully with a trophy for us. At the moment, nothing has been agreed. Their league is going to get started soon so we’re just waiting to see.”
And Ighalo's agent Ladi Salami has shed light on the negotiations, insisting they are progressing well.
"The Super Eagle feels very good in Manchester with whom he is very close to a salary agreement. Negotiations with the Chinese are ongoing and are going well," Salami told Foot Mercato.
The length of a possible extension remains to be seen, but Standard Sport also understands United have only entertained the possibility of a loan extension as of yet.
Ighalo hasscored four goals in eight games since arriving in January.
