This archive report was first published on 8 May 2020.
Manchester United's Nigerian striker Odion Ighalo has expressed his hope to extend his loan deal at the club until the Premier League season is completed following the COVID-19 lockdown.
On May 8, 2020, Ighalo, who joined Manchester United from Shanghai Shenhua in January, stated that he would like to finish the season if possible, citing his good form and shape before the pandemic started.
‘I was in good form, good shape, scoring goals and now we’ve stopped now for over a month. I’ve given it my best and hopefully we’ll come back to play,' Ighalo told BBC Sport.
Manchester United are reportedly keen to extend Ighalo’s contract, despite their attacking worries easing during the lockdown. The former Watford player has scored four times in eight games in all competitions for United.
With nine games remaining, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side are fifth in the table, chasing a Champions League spot after an indifferent season.
As part of their training regime, Solskjaer’s players have been wearing GPS trackers, which the Norwegian manager believes has inspired and motivated them to perform better.
‘It’s not to keep track of them or spy on them but it’s been so long now, this phase and at different stages we’ve added things and I think the GPS has inspired and motivated a few of them just to go that little bit extra,' Solskjaer told the BBC’s Football Focus programme.
