Ighalo: Former EPL Star, Hasselbaink Questions Signing

Former Chelsea and Leeds United forward Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has laid bare his opinion that Odion Ighalo’s move to Old Trafford highlights the low heights Manchester United currently find themselves and shows the chasm that exists between the club and Premier League rivals Liverpool and Manchester City.

The Red Devils completed a late loan move for Ighalo from Shanghai Shenhua on transfer deadline day as they sought to strengthen their attacking options after losing Marcus Rashford to injury.

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Surprised by the move, Hasselbaink said Ighalo was neither United’s number one nor number two transfer target in January, but he believes the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations top scorer rode his luck to the Theatre of Dreams.

"He must be the luckiest man! Going to China, being away from Europe nobody seeing him for two and a half years since he was at Watford and then getting a loan move at United," the ex-Netherlands striker told SkySports.

"Wow. That doesn't happen!

"It says how far behind United are from Liverpool, Manchester City, and even Chelsea. They have got a big job ahead.

"They needed somebody in. I think he was not their number one and I would be surprised if he was their number two or three as well.

"He is getting an opportunity and he will definitely get minutes and we will see if he can do it."

The former Watford attacker is back in England and will be joining the squad for the club's winter break trip. The former Nigerian international could make his debut against fourth-placed Chelsea on February 17 and has been handed the number 25.