Nigeria star Odion Ighalo is one of a number of strikers Newcastle United are looking at ahead of the January transfer window.
Ighalo, who has had previous spells in the Premier League with Watford and Manchester United, is currently playing for Al Shabab in Saudi Arabia.
Al Shabab have informally asked Ighalo if he would be interested should Newcastle come in for him, and Sky Sports News has been told he would seriously consider a move if contact is made.
Also Read: Vieira: AFCON Is As Important As European Championship
Ighalo is the joint top scorer in the Saudi Professional League this season with nine goals.
He moved to the Middle East from Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua after his loan deal at Old Trafford came to an end earlier this year.
The 32-year-old’s contract at Al Shabab expires in the summer of 2023.
He scored 40 goals in 100 appearances for Watford between 2014 and 2017 and netted five times in 23 games for United during his year-long spell at the club between January 2020 and Janaury 2021.
58 Comments
I see Egypt being worked up.
Oh! Like SE are caging Egypt, right? I can understand with Odion on our side, most of those Afcon teams are going to be really scared.
Really we caged Egypt in our last meeting. I’m in alignment with you that Egyptians are worked up just seeing this.
@Dennis Ealuta, you know we pretend to fail our own. Odion is going to be the highest score in epl 2022. Watch out.
Can we see now! Some of us need to thread carefully so that we mind what will say to people. This is same Ighalo whom a lots of fans accused former SE coach of taking bribe for recalling. Can we say those experts also took bribe? I keep saying it, a time will come when we will all tendered apology to that man because he meant well for Nigeria football but people taking his gentility for dumbness that time is fast here honestly.. some Nigerians are disgusting
Take it with both hands..Afcon here SE scorer comes.
@Zooman
I think he should rather go to their Supreme Bayern Munich. Newcastle was supreme in London but I fear it is being relegated.
A lot of these super eagles and former eagle players are taking steps backwards. He had offers from all over from arsenal, barcelona, spurs and I also think juventus or inter. He actually did well for watford scoring goals.
But newcastle is a step backward. They are most likely going to be relegated. They need to worry about their defense not attacking players. Probably because he is playing in saudi league and newcastle owned by saudi people. Its like with Ekong playing for Udinese and moved to watford because both team have the same owners
Ooh cool! this guy still has something that Newcastle has seen while Nigerians are saying he has no business with Super Eagles! I reserve my comments.
Bros If the opportunity come move sharply so as to proof to those critics that you can still do it in the toughest league in the world better than those flash in the pans. And so that we wey believe in you go rest too. We don tire to hear na Saudi Arabia him dey play for… Na Saudi Arabia him dey play for.. Lol!
I tell you bro @chuks haifa That’s why I like Oyibo. Dem dey quickly recognize and believe in real talent when them see one. Na just kaluba make my guy go Saudi Arabia o.. no be say dude no fit compete for strong leagues. All of a sudden him own people just stop believing in him…
Alot of fans just talk as if they are the ones paying a players bill.. so he should move to barca just for the name even if the offer is not right? And probably getting benched? A massive historical club like Newcastle you called backward? Because they are in relegation battle? Am sure the likes of Obagoal will laff at your statement.
You are surely a monkey and jobless
Believing that Newcastle will sign Ighalo is like believing that the moon will fall from the sky…… Newcastle are deeply in need of a striker to avoid relegation but they move for a 30+ plus Player who has added weight and has lost alot of pace??……Ighalo can not stand the tempo of the premier league anymore……. This links is just a way of getting the smaller teams who have money in lower leagues to pounce…….the truth is bitter but it must be said, Ighalo is on his way out of the football stage just like all players have done before him…….. He and his management team are just fighting to keep him relevant for as long as possible…….The sun always set no matter what.
How? The sun refused to rise on Joaquin Sanchez Rodriguez of Real Betis who is 40yrs while Zlatan Ibrahimovic of AC Milan is 39yrs but are still active players. Odion Ighalo is only 32.
@Henry. Don’t mind those negative individuals who don’t know their left hand from their right hand. They talk as if they are the one paying the bills of players of Ighalo status. Ighalo is only 32. While a lot of players in Liverpool or Manchester City are well over such age group.
Don’t mind all these haters. They hate Ighalo and they can eat their hearts out.
Their vexation no get part2..They can easily be worked up.
Ighalo 32 lol
The moon will fall if Newcastle wants Ighalo, the same way it fell in 2019 when Barcelona wanted him…? Or the same way it fell in 2020 when Man U wanted him…?
Some people’s brand of hatred doesnt require customs duty…LMAOoooo
Ndi Ighalo does not deserve to be in the Super Eagles. Ngwa Gernot Rohr was wrong to invite Ighalo. Una no see your life so. Bad belle no go let Una rest until he finds you to break your neck.
It is your father that deserves it, ngwa. See the response of the zooman. Those people breaking many known records in football already. Na their zoo way
I for go first break cage, if I dey that position. Truth be told, Ighalo fit break another record for cameroon o.
The facts remains that Nigeria have mobile No9 ahead of him o current form. He has past his best. Modern No9 needs work rate, i.e mobility and efficiency in front of goal. Newcastle signing him or not could never place him ahead of awoniyi, dennis,sadiq presently.
Newcastle miss Road. people should start naming Ighalo’s trophies as a professional player. SMH even Kanu is ahead of Ighalo… Shame dey catch me indeed.. Ighalo Aka Lago master.
Lol agent must hawk to put food on his table. People like they new in the system. Ighalo has no business in the super eagles ahead of younger, vibrant abd more mobile strikers, period! If Newcastle signs him, good for him but for super Eagles? He has no business shikina!
“He’s only 32” yen yen yen like we don’t what typical African players birn and raised in africa do to their birth certificate
Congratulations to Ighalo in advance. I wish him the best.
Nonetheless, I am tired of our attitudes Nigerians.
Why are we like this?
Nobody hates nobody when its comes to Ighalo issue. If we go by what we saw in our last game then Ighalo shouldn’t near the national team.
To some people, they still believe that president Buhari is doing his best for the citizens. This is why some of us here still clamoring for Oga Rohr.
Slave mentality is the major problem Nigeria/Africa. To Amaju, Eguavoen, Amunike and co are not good to be the Super Eagles coach. He wants something better because he doesn’t believe that our own have what it takes to deliver because they are black.
For argument sake, go back and watch our last match and tell me if you will be happy to see Ighalo in Cameroon.
Although, I am so elated that many clubs are looking to have Ighalo but I will advise him to step aside and allowing Dessers, Dennis and Awoniyi to get the job done in Cameroon but if he doesn’t listen to my words, Ighalo is on his own.
Am I communicating ba? Yowa. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!
Ugo take am easy with our own president, President Bihari. He likes keeping people quiet inside zoocage. I thought this column was for sports news.
The last l heard was that Dessers was not even listed among the 40-team names submitted to AFCON. It seemed his agent did not work hard enough on his behalf. But Amoo name is there. Desser’s agent should demand for more money to enable his name to get pump more air in here. Haha!!!!
That is why we’re happy Rohr got fired. It is beyond criminal offence to pick an Odion heavy duty Ighalo ahead of inform Dessers
You aren’t serious, Eric. Like talking about the reigning African golden boot holder in cameroon with all the beau. See video.
https://youtu.be/WpNVcjU2MEw?t=10
Very good you didn’t complain about the goals. Ighalo scored 2 goals for his club recently. Go figure. You even sound like someone who is forced to claim here against his wish. It is people like you that are laboring to hug another color. Before you gett lost, listen, about Odion.
https://youtu.be/VQSgRWDw9o0?t=18
You are not making any sense.
lghalo must think deeply for that before next step.
Premier league is big business.
Millions of dollars are on the line. Clubs will only invite players they believe can help them prosper in the premiership.
When Rohr invited Ighalo to help with our world cup qualifiers, some said he has collected bribe.
Ighalo must be very rich ooo. He must have bribed Newcastle owner Mohammed Bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, who reportedly has a net worth of 13 billion pounds!!!!
Perhaps the Newcastle board are also clueless like Rohr.
A coach always, always, always has the right to invite ANYONE he or she feels is needed to help them succeed in their job.
For instance, if FIFA allows females to play in a male team, and Rohr considers ASISAT OSHOALA to be one of the best strikers Nigeria has at the moment, HE HAS EVERY RIGHT TO INVITE OSHOALA TO THE TEAM.
And if Oshoala impresses in training, she will start on match day.
Don’t adjust your TV sets, ladies and gentlemen. It’s indeed a lady that is leading the attack of the Super Eagles of Nigeria today!
Rohr is looking for ANYONE who can help him in his job. Period.
To deny him of his right to invite anyone he needs is a violation of his contract. Why hire him in the first place, if you won’t give him the free hand to select his squad?
Ighalo’s invite was never meant to mean an automatic starting jersey. He was invited to compete with the other young guns. IT’S A COMPETITION FOR JERSEYS. If Ighalo does not merit a jersey, he will be excluded from the match day squad.
Yes, I agree that other strikers like Dessers and Olayinka should have been considered as well. But I’m not the coach. It’s the coach’s prerogative, not mine.
I can sit on my couch and be shouting DESSERS, but if we invite Dessers, and he flops and we lose, no skin pain for me, except sadness that we lost. Rohr however can lose his job, his lively-hood, if his decision fails. So let the coach make his decisions, and live with the consequences. This is one of the terms of his contract, explicit or implied.
MONEY FOLLOWS QUALITY.
The prince probably watches the Saudi league, has seen Ighalo in action, and was impressed enough with what he saw. He probably suggested Ighalo to the Newcastle board.
For Newcastle to be looking at Ighalo, THEY MUST BE CONVINCED THAT HE CAN BRING SOMETHING SIGNIFICANT TO THE TABLE.
These guys are professionals, and their job depends on the decisions they make.
They will not consider a MAYBE, an unproven option. There is no room for sentiment.
THERE IS TOO MUCH MONEY ON THE LINE.
If Ighalo was a bad idea, the Newcastle folks will not be shy about telling the prince to forget Ighalo. After all, it’s also the prince’s money that is at risk! The prince can suggest Ighalo, but the board makes the decisions, subject to the prince’s approval, with the goal of increasing the prince’s net worth and adding value to the club.
Perhaps Ighalo critics possess more football knowledge than the Newcastle egg heads.
I doubt that very much, but even if that’s the case, the fact remains that like Rohr, the Newcastle folks have every right to invite ANYONE they believe can help them out in their football business.
Like my guy @Dennis Party never start dem don dey carry chair. I understand how frustrating it can be sometimes for Ighalo haters. LMAO!!!
2020-2021 season.
https://youtu.be/jYQrVIK9IwM?t=8
I know they will call me names for saying the Truth…….I know I will be attacked for calling a spade a spade…….The truth is Ighalo had passed his prime and should give way for younger strikers in SE to Excel…….What is hatred about that?what is hatred about fighting for the young talents to be given more responsibility?……. Looking at Ighalo closely shows you he has not been taking his physical fitness seriously of late…….Players like Ronaldo Cavani Ibra and Rodriguez that have played above their 30s are looking very trim and sharp and you can see the hard work they put into their body to remain relevant to compete in a top5 league……. Ighalo’s case is different because he has clearly added weight and lost alot of pace hence his stay in the Saudi league…….SE was made easy for him because Rhor and his coaches killed any competition that could hinder Ighalo’s return to the team…….Rhor dismissed 3 young world class strikers from SE in quick fashion within the period leading to Ighalo’s return sighting various reasons ranging from inexperience to disciplinary issues…….. Football is not sentiment and nepotism especially when it comes to the EPL which is so unforgiving…….Man utd needed a high profile player with good image rights and nearing the twilight of career to cover their main striker in lesser competition like the FA cup and Europa league and that was exactly the competition Ighalo was restricted to…….. Newcastle on the other hand is fighting for their life and they need a striker they can use in the EPL…….. Newcastle need a dynamic and mobile striker who can meet the demands of the EPL…….A striker who can work for the team on and off the ball……..And Ighalo props up and I should swallow it Hook line and sinker?……..I wish Newcastle signs him as a Nigerian player inorder to increase our presence in the EPL but my head remains firm on this particular speculation because it makes absolutely no sense to me.
Oga are you a representative of Newcastle? Why we dey like become bad belle to our own? Na so una do come up with one kind bad belle phrase “Let us fail with our own” and with the confusion everywhere now it seems it is working.. Now Newcastle have seen something in Ighalo that they need which obviously you that you’re his own cannot see and you are there castigating. It’s not fair na?. Tell me whether devil go purnish you, if you just come here and type”congratulations in advance Odion”?
My own is when is our list gonna show up… You can’t take a young team to a tournament and expect miracle.. seen with other Big Nations We need experience at least 3… To push this young blood… That’s is why other Senegal, Algeria are progressing checkout their teams mixed up
We don’t need Ighalo’s kind of experience. Ighalo and Yakubu always cost us.
All these hates for your own countryman?…who is this Chima or something? Oga,what are you going true in your life? Because all these ain’t normal.
Muslim man I don’t expect you to understand a pinch so I won’t go down the lane with Sorry you.
@Eneh it seems snake has swallowed the list o… @Chima E Samuel even the likes of messi and Ronaldo at a point in their careers made some misses and mistakes for their national side….How much more Ighalo who is not on the same level. Please give Ighalo a break. You guys are over stretching this thing.
@Abdul the thing don dey tire me o… Some of them are carrying the hatred for our own down to club level. Telling Newcastle that he is gonna be a bad signing. You can imagine!
I really don’t know all this needless hullabaloo about Igahalo
Was there any doubt that Igahalo was not super flopped on his return to SE in the last game , with zero goal , zero assist, loosing all the open chances that came his way , which all these factors had exposed Rohr as a bribe taker
Did Rohr himself not admitted that Igahalo was a super flopped by not only removing him early in the second half in the last forgettable game , but also begged Nigerians to give a retired flopped Igahalo more time in SE to adapt with a silly excuse that Igahalo has been away from the team ; Ronaldo was away from ManU over a decade and back with instant excellent performance from where he had stop over a decade ago.
That Igahalo and his handlers can be in cloud 9 just because a relegated bound team as Newcastle is looking at his direction, speak volume that Igahalo is in his declining stage of his career
Every serious players that were linked with Newcastle in the recent past all turned it down ; would any sane minds could have linked an inform Osimeh to such a relegated bound outfit ?
Would the handlers of Osimeh , or Awoniyi would have considered their stars player being linked to Newcastle a cheering news ?
That Newcastle could not get any serious players in a top rating league in Uk , Italy , Spain , Germany, Belgium, France etc but a Sunday Sunday league as the least league of players on pilgrimage in Saudi shows why Newcastle is a whipping team in premiership
Another senseless human being, cousin to Chima…na bad Belle go kill of una
It is high time , we allow the new SE coach concentrate on our informs younger players who have been great form and the future of SE .
Igahalo has served SE meritoriously to his ability in the past , but should give way to the deserving younger players who are all in greater form and playing in a quality league .
We wish the Newcastle dream comes true ; Igahalo would definitely be an added value to the relegated bound Newcastle but does not have business again in SE ahead of our better younger players Amooo , Dessers, Dennis , Awoniyi etc
Oga you can’t compare club football and country football. And you can’t also compare Ighalo and Ronaldo. They are not and will never be on the same level. And you can’t begin to bring a 23 years old(Osimhe) who still have more football to play ahead of him into this picture comparing him with a 32 years old wait until they play the game till they are 32 and then judge cos the last time I checked when Ighalo was in his twenties the likes of Barcelona where all over him. So most big clubs like younger hot players. And when you are ageing, you become less attractive for bigger clubs with big ambition.
Monkey post the more you talk, the more you convince people football knowledge difficiency. Answer me you still got element of honesty in you
How old was Musa in his first world in 2014 and and how well did he perform? Did he had any world cup experience before that one? was the world cup a club side football or country football?
@Chinenye you are trying to be a witch here mehn.. Am trying to take my woman and my daughter out mehn… You know its Christmas.. And You know how it is with women they easily vexed when you don’t give them attention. can’t be typing and replying you why on this mission..sorry try again later… And on jesus’s birthday? you still doing insult?? Jesus Christmas! Am shocked at you mehn..
tact
The five Nigeria-eligible players linked with moves to Newcastle United in January
Published: December 25, 2021
The five Nigeria-eligible players linked with moves to Newcastle United in January
Five players of Nigerian descent are being linked with possible moves to Premier League side Newcastle United in the January transfer window.
Almeria’s Sadiq Umar is one of the strikers rumoured to be on the radar of the Magpies and it remains to be seen whether an official bid will be tabled in the coming days.
The 2016 Olympics bronze medalist has made a splash since moving to Spain, mustering 31 goals and setting up 14 others in 64 appearances across all competitions.
Another Nigerian attacker drawing interest from Newcastle United is former Manchester United and Watford star Odion Ighalo.
Although Ighalo has not been as prolific as Sadiq over the last two seasons, the 32-year-old is very experienced and has a good reputation in England.
Red-hot Luton Town goal poacher Elijah Adebayo could be a player of interest to Newcastle United after he was scouted in a recent Championship clash against Fulham.
The 6ft 4in striker is averaging a goal every other game in the second-tier of English football, notching 10 goals and one assist in 1,649 minutes of football spread across twenty matches.
Newcastle United are also in the market for defensive reinforcements and have Fulham center back Tosin Adarabioyo on their radar.
The fact that Fulham are in a good position to make an immediate return to the Premier League could make his decision to remain at the Cottagers until at least this summer more easier.
Newcastle United have made enquiries about the availability of Danish-Nigerian star Philip Billing.
Magpies boss Eddie Howe knows Billing from his time at the Cherries, the central midfielder played 36 games under him including 34 in the Premier League.
Ifeanyi Emmanuel
Photo Credit : fulhamfc.com
Una done see am say no be only ighalo dey link with Newcastle abi.. I beg make we try hear word…
This is the 28 man team list for the Afcon
https://www.thenff.com/2021/12/nigeria-name-musa-ndidi-osimhen-25-others-in-28-man-final-list-for-afcon-2021/
Gk
Apkeyi, uzoho, okoye,noble
Defenders
Aina,colins, shehu,balogun,ekong,awaziem,omeruo,Zaid,
Midfielders
Ndidi,frank,aribo,iwobi,Nwakali
Attackers
Awoniyi,Osimehen,musa,ejuke,chukwueze, dennis,simon,kelechi,ighalo
Folks, our own list of the Super Eagles of Nigeria is out, it is good you are happy for us. Go and get ready to pay for DSTV subscription or buy data for hesgoal. If you can travel, come and wash us for Garoua stadium, Cameroon. 11th, Jan. Time be 5pm. God bless our country.
The only issue I have here is that we lack the sportmanship. Everyone has is right to his opinions. The coach has make hid decision we should all respect their actions because they are the once in charge, they invite player who they think will fit in to their plans. Let’s stop the attitude of insultive words here, we are matured humans. Air ur view and let it be. Don’t intrude in another’s persons opinion. Merry Christmas to you all.