Transfer Centre

Troy Deeney laughs off Odion Ighalo speculation

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 31 December 2015

Watford forward Odion Ighalo will not be allowed to leave the Premier League club in January, according to Hornets captain Troy Deeney.

Watford captain Troy Deeney has insisted that teammate Odion Ighalo will not be leaving the capital outfit in the January transfer window.

Ighalo has netted 14 Premier League goals this season and has struck 26 league goals this calendar year – more than any other player in English football.

The striker's form has led to suggestions that a number of clubs, including Atletico Madrid, were preparing offers for the 26-year-old.

However, Deeney, who has formed an excellent partnership with Ighalo, has claimed that Watford chairman Gino Pozzo would not be interested in selling his star player.

"He ain't going in January... want him as much as you want but I know Gino and it just wouldn't make sense," Deeney told the Evening Standard.

"Why would he sell a striker and want to stay in the league? The value of selling Odion for, what would he be worth? £20m, £25m? Or staying up and getting £200m? Simple business maths, he's not going to sell him. Odion doesn't come in saying, 'I want to leave.' He'll just keep doing what he's doing. We just laugh at it."

Ighalo scored 20 Championship goals last season as Watford won promotion to the top flight.