Odion Ighalo not keen on Chinese return, emerges as transfer target for La Liga side | OneFootball

Manchester United’s on-loan striker Odion Ighalo has reportedly become a transfer target for La Liga side Real Betis.

Ighalo, 31, joined United on-loan from Chinese side Shanghai Greenland Shenhua during 2020’s January window.

However, after what was supposed to be a short-term, six-month loan, Ighalo has ended up staying with the Red Devils for double that amount of time.

After the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic hit just under 12-months ago, which saw football all across Europe postponed, United agreed to extend the Nigerian’s stay.

However, after always playing a bit-part, emergency back-up role, Ighalo’s game-time has unsurprisingly been few and far between.

After bidding farewell to the club, as the 32-year-old’s January exit edges closer, there have been reports that the Nigerian is not keen to return to the Chinese Super League.

According to a report from Estadio Deportivo, Ighalo has emerged as a transfer target for La Liga side Real Betis.

The report claims current Betis manager Manuel Pellegrini has been a long-standing admirer of Ighalo after he impressed during his three-year spell with Watford (2014-2017).

It has been claimed that Betis are very unlikely to be making any transfer moves during the January transfer window, but have not ruled out a future move.

In addition to Betis, Ighalo is believed to have also gained interest from clubs in the MLS and Serie A.

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