Man United to offer Ighalo a week-by-week contract after June 30 as prelude to signing him

ODION Ighalo looks all set to be signed permanently by Manchester United when his six month loan deal expires at the end of the season after the club decided to offer him an initial weekly contract in the summer as a prelude to a long term deal.

Ighalo, 30, was a deadline day signing for Manchester United, secured on loan from Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua until the end of the season. His initial contract did not include a buy-on clause and he was expected to return to China after June 30 but Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solksjaer has been impressed with the striker's form since he arrived and the club is now thinking of extending his stay.

Highly popular with the Manchester United fans, Ighalo has scored four goals in three games he has started for the club, out of a total of eight appearances. His ability to hold the ball up also gives the team an added dimension to its play, prompting Solksjaer to consider keeping Ighalo for at least another season.

With the league currently suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak, the season is certain to extend beyond June 30, so as a first step, Manchester United intend to extend his contract on a week-by-week basis. Shanghai Shenhua have already set a fee of £15m for Manchester United, which the club will have to come up with if they want the player on a permanent basis.

Manchester United are also poised to offer the out-of-contract duo of Angel Gomes and Nemanja Matic. Both are likely to be given weekly contracts to tie them down beyond the end of the season on June 30.