Man Utd Lead Arsenal In Race For Premier League Hotshot

With the winter transfer window closed, manager’s are now looking ahead towards the summer and planning deals for next season. Today, Manchester United are leading the race for Odion Ighalo…

Manchester United are leading Arsenal in the race to sign Watford’s £20m-rated striker Odion Ighalo this summer, according to the Mirror.

Ighalo has been a revelation since moving to Watford in 2014 with the striker netting 20 goals in 38 games to help the Hornets clinch promotion to the Premier League during his first season in England.

The 26-year-old has continued to impress during his debut season in the English top flight with the Nigerian international scoring 15 goals in 29 appearances so far this campaign.

Unsurprisingly, Ighalo’s form has attracted interest from the upper echelons of the Premier League with the Mirror reporting that Manchester United and Arsenal have been showing a keen interest in his services.

Arsene Wenger has been under increasing pressure from the Arsenal fans to sign another striker after he failed to strengthen his attacking options during the last two transfer windows and it looks as though the Frenchman has short-listed Ighalo as a potential new addition this summer.

However, it appears the Gunners are going to face some stiff competition as the Mirror claims that United are currently the front-runners for his signature and the Red Devils are set to press ahead with their attempts to lure the striker to Old Trafford.

Louis van Gaal’s position as manager has come under serious review in recent months with Jose Mourinho tipped to take over the United hot seat this summer, but the newspaper suggests that Ighalo will be a key target no matter who’s in charge next season.

United could certainly do with strengthening their forward options and Ighalo has previously made no secret of his desire to move to Old Trafford having told reporters last month that he wouldn’t be able to resist if United came calling.

Speaking before the January transfer window, Ighalo is quoted as saying by the Mirror:

“I don’t think I will be moving but I’m not sure I’d say no if United called.

“They were my team growing up. I loved watching Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke on TV. They were my idols and playing at Old Trafford has always been a dream.”

So it looks as though if United do formalise their interest this summer, Ighalo would jump at the chance of making the move and the Red Devils certainly have the financial fire-power to match Watford’s reported £20m asking price.

READ MORE –> Arsenal transfer news | Man Utd transfer news

I’m sure the Hornets will do all they can to try and persuade Ighalo to remain at Vicarage Road for at least another season as they are almost certainly going to avoid relegation this year, but they’ll find it difficult to hang on to their star man if the likes of United or Arsenal come calling.