United could make Ighalo permanent transfer as Solskjaer 'needs him next season'

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has suggested Manchester United would be open to making Odion Ighalo's loan a permanent deal.

"Odion has done really well since he came in and he's enjoying himself," Solskjaer said. "And he will improve and get better but he has qualities we saw in him and we needed and we will still need those qualities for next season, so let's see what we will do.

“He's a goalscorer and a striker, he doesn't worry too much about all that nonsense; build-up play - that's a joke, obviously. He knows his job and what his role in the team is, and he's very good with his back to goal, great link player, but maybe the best thing about him is his personality, so he's got the whole lot really.

“He had three touches before his fourth was the finish. All them touches were high quality but he had to make them to create space for himself. But the strike is on the half-volley, great timing, no one would have saved that one so anyone would have been proud of that finish."

Ighalo scored United's first on a night Daniel James ended his six-and-a-half month goal drought before Juan Mata, Mason Greenwood, and Andreas Pereira chipped in with late goals. Solskjaer was 'proud' of United's performance.

"The boys were fantastic, they deserve a lot of credit and praise for the way they went about the job," Solskjaer added. "There was loads of quality in our finishing, some fantastic goals and some football we should be proud of."