Manchester United were in the process of preparing to sign a replacement for Odion Ighalo before the coronavirus pandemic disrupted their plans.
The Nigerian has been a success since his loan move from Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua on deadline day in the January transfer window.
And his form has led to talk of a permanent transfer, a move that the boyhood United fan would presumably like to seal.
But according to The Athletic, Ighalo would have returned to China if a new striker came into the club in the upcoming summer transfer window.
In a Q&A session journalist David Ornstein said: “United were also preparing an offer for a striker before the lockdown – not sure who – and the idea was if he ended up signing Ighalo would return to China.
“But COVID-19 has thrown everything up in the air, so we don’t know how things will pan out.”
Ighalo recently hinted that he has not yet made a decision about his future after his loan spell ends.
“There is no offer on the table yet,” he told Elegbete TV.
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“Because the season is still on and I’m yet to finish my loan deal. I don’t just take decisions alone in my life. I have a principle and I have a guideline for everything I do. I always pray to God to direct me.
“I have seen so many tweets about this. I have seen so many people going crazy, [saying] ‘go back to China’, some say ‘stay with Man United’.
“I don’t just sit down and take decisions, and I don’t get carried away with whatever people say. I came to Manchester United to play for a pay cut because I wanted to. So anything could happen, but I want the season to finish and my loan to finish. Then I will see everything I have.
“You don’t just rush and do things: ‘I’m going here, I’m going here’. I have to sit down and finish the season well, sit down with my agent, see what’s on the ground: A, B, C, D, is on the ground. Okay we have to pick.”
Critics claim United panic bought Ighalo in January after being linked with several bigger named strikers.
The likes of Edinson Cavani and Moussa Dembele were thought to be on the club’s wish list but in the end only midfielder Bruno Fernandes arrived before Ighalo on the final day.
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