Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been talking up Odion Ighalo’s chance of earning a permanent deal.
Speaking to the club website, Solskjaer said: “It’s a loan, but when you’re in the door and if you impress it gives you a chance.
“That’s exactly the same for everyone who signs if it’s permanent or it’s a loan. If you impress as a player, if you impress as a person, if you can help this group improve, then of course there’s a chance that we’ll look at extending things.”
Ighalo is hoping to make his debut tonight for United against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Motivating tactic
Ighalo’s signing split opinion and there is a worry of course that United could take a cheap option to sign the 30-year-old permanently in the summer, as opposed to buying a younger more exciting striker.
At this point, Solskjaer is saying what he has to say.
He needs Ighalo to become a big contributor for this United team between now and May.
If the dangled carrot of a possible permanent deal helps Ighalo work even harder to be a success, then so be it.
The decision may not be up to Solskjaer in the summer anyway. He needs to prove between now and May that he is the right manager to lead United’s rebuild.
If Ighalo can score some crucial goals between now and May, the prospects of keeping him may be viewed as more of a positive.
It may not have to be an either or with regards to another new striker. They could complement each other and two deals could be done.
It’s up to Ighalo to force United’s hand and show he has unique qualities to help the team both short-term and long-term.
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