Odion Ighalo is emerging as a player who Manchester United could sign in the summer.
The Nigerian striker has impressed with his performances on loan over the past month, and The Mirror report it could cost just £15 million to sign him permanently.
Ighalo has scored four goals in three starts so far for United and was making a case to become a regular league starter.
He is only really supposed to be a back-up option, a very good one, and his performance have been a pleasant surprise.
A permanent move would be smart at just £15 million as he adds vital squad depth.
What it should not do, is end United’s interest in signing any other strikers.
United should be looking for a young, talented, and prolific goalscorer, a player like Lyon’s Moussa Dembele, Celtic’s Odsonne Edouard, or Genk’s Jonathan David, who have more than 60 goals between them already this season.
A move for Ighalo would however end any need for United to add a striker who is age 28 or over.
United need to look long-term, and it would not make sense to sign Ighalo, 31 in June, and then spend even more on Raul Jimenez, who will be 29 in May.
Talented striker who has been linked
Wolves star Jimenez has caught United’s eye, Goal reported earlier this year.
Teamtalk claimed three weeks ago that it could cost United as much as £50 million to sign the striker.
Jimenez is very talented, he’s strong in the air and is a traditional centre-forward, who is proven in the Premier League.
But if United spend £15 million on Odion Ighalo, there is no need to then splash £50 million on Jimenez.
That sort of money should be put towards a younger striker, who is more of an investment.
United should expect at that money for the striker to still be a United regular in 2025. That would not be the case necessarily with Jimenez, and his age made him a high risk target anyway.
Paying for Ighalo at £15 million is a far more savvy fee for a player of his age.
He is good, but we would expect to see ambition and a ‘striker of the future’ signed too.
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