Odion Ighalo reveals Premier League interest after Manchester United exit

West Ham and West Brom wanted to sign the striker

Nigerian striker Odion Ighalo has revealed Premier League clubs expressed interest in signing him after his loan deal at Manchester United came to a close.

Ighalo went to United on loan from Shanghai Shenhua last season and the deal was extended through to January 2021.

When his time at Old Trafford ended the star went to Al Shabab but clubs, including West Ham, had wanted to keep him in England.

He told Sky Sports: “Yeah, there was the possibility of West Ham and West Brom to stay in the Premier League, which I thought about. But after being at Manchester United, the biggest club in England if not the world, what else could I possibly do in the Premier League?

“I had good offers to stay in England, but I just didn’t think I could stay after achieving my dream of playing for the club I had supported since I was young.

“I came all the way from China because it was Manchester United when I had already rejected other offers because United has always been my dream.”

The 31-year-old added a deal from Tottenham Hotspur had been offered but once United came knocking all other deals were rejected.

He added: “That was close - my agent called me and told me they had offered to match whatever I was earning but once I heard Manchester United were interested, there was no turning back.

“I couldn’t think about anything else other than making the Manchester United deal work. I was going to have to take a pay cut but I didn’t care, I just wanted the deal to happen.”

In the 2019/20 season for the Red Devils, Ighalo scored five goals in 19 appearances. The competition with team-mates Anthony Martial and Edinson Cavani meant he was only included in four matches this season but he has nothing but good things to say about United.

Ighalo said: “I’m so happy that my path crossed with Manchester United - it’s the club I love with all my heart and for all my life so playing for them was a big privilege that I do not take for granted.

“No matter the circumstances that led me to leave, I will always be grateful to the coach, my team-mates, the fans, and everyone around Manchester United.”