Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hints at permanent Odion Ighalo move

Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has suggested that his club will attempt to sign Odion Ighalo on a permanent deal during this summer's transfer window.

The Nigeria international joined United on loan from Shanghai Shenhua on the final evening of the January window.

As it stands, the 30-year-old will return to China this summer, but he has scored four times in eight appearances for the Red Devils since making the mid-season switch.

Ighalo was again on the scoresheet in United's 5-0 win over LASK Linz in the Europa League on Thursday night, and Solskjaer hinted after the contest that the forward could still be at Old Trafford next season.

"Odion has done really well since he came in and he's enjoying himself," Solskjaer told reporters. "And he will improve and get better but he has qualities we saw in him and we needed and we will still need those qualities for next season, so let's see what we will do.

"He's a goalscorer and a striker, he doesn't worry too much about all that nonsense; build-up play - that's a joke, obviously. He knows his job and what his role in the team is, and he's very good with his back to goal, great link player, but maybe the best thing about him is his personality, so he's got the whole lot really.

"He had three touches before his fourth was the finish. All them touches were high quality but he had to make them to create space for himself. But the strike is on the half-volley, great timing, no one would have saved that one so anyone would have been proud of that finish."

Ighalo previously played in England for Watford between 2014 and 2017.