INEOS Negotiating Personal Terms for Signing Ighalo 2.0 at Man Utd
Since the summer of 2023, Manchester United has spent approximately £174.5m on three new centre-forwards, opting for youth by acquiring Rasmus Hojlund, Joshua Zirkzee, and Benjamin Sesko in consecutive summers. The outcome? This pricey trio has collectively netted merely 20 Premier League goals over the past two-and-a-half years, with United seemingly repeating their market strategy while anticipating a different outcome. Focusing on relatively untested young forwards has been the recent trend at Old Trafford, indicating a noticeable shift from a more immediate strategy that previously saw Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Edinson Cavani, and Cristiano Ronaldo brought in to spearhead the attack.
That trend also coincided with a search for more unconventional, temporary striker options akin to Wout Weghorst and Odion Ighalo, with indications that the INEOS regime might replicate this approach with their own surprise maneuver in 2026.
Man Utd in discussions over personal terms for the new Ighalo For an extended period, the absence of a consistent, elite number nine has troubled the Red Devils, with Robin van Persie remaining the last player to score 20 league goals for the team in a single campaign.
Man Utd’s top PL scorers by season
| Season | Top scorer |
|---|---|
| 24/25 | Fernandes & Amad – 8 |
| 23/24 | Fernandes & Hojlund – 10 |
| 22/23 | Marcus Rashford – 17 |
| 21/22 | Cristiano Ronaldo – 18 |
| 20/21 | Bruno Fernandes – 18 |
| 19/20 | Rashford & Martial – 17 |
| 18/19 | Paul Pogba – 13 |
| 17/18 | Romelu Lukaku – 16 |
| 16/17 | Zlatan Ibrahimovic – 17 |
| 15/16 | Anthony Martial – 11 |
| 14/15 | Wayne Rooney – 12 |
| 13/14 | Wayne Rooney – 17 |
| 12/13 | Robin van Persie – 26 |
Stats via WhoScored
Things may have unfolded differently had Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s advice to sign Erling Haaland been taken seriously, as the treble winner had also pursued his compatriot during his initial season at the club in 2019/20. Ultimately, the Norwegian star joined Borussia Dortmund ahead of the January transfer window in 2020, leaving United scrambling on deadline day to secure boyhood fan Odion Ighalo on an initial loan from Chinese club, Shanghai Shenhua.
That was undoubtedly a deal that would not have been predicted beforehand, and the same might hold true concerning Auxerre striker, Lassine Sinayoko, amid reports that INEOS are moving forward with an inquiry for the Ligue 1 talent. Indeed, according to Africa Foot, United are negotiating personal terms with the 26-year-old, with both sides thought to be nearing a €3m (£2m) salary agreement.
The indication is that Ruben Amorim’s squad aims to finalize a transfer next month before Sinayoko’s potential free transfer next summer. Why United might be pursuing their new Ighalo Whether Sinayoko arrives in January or in the summer, he could represent the unexpected addition that Amorim requires, especially given that Sesko has only found the net twice since his transfer from RB Leipzig last summer.
The Auxerre striker may not be a glamorous, recognizable name, but Ighalo’s example illustrates that an unconventional move can lead to success, as the experienced Nigerian had a notable impact in his brief time in Manchester. Indeed, the former Watford player scored five goals in his initial six months at Old Trafford, including a remarkable juggling goal against LASK Linz in the Europa League.
His tenure was brief and not highly prolific, yet Ighalo proved to be a valuable asset under Solskjaer, especially as United advanced far in both the FA Cup and Europa League. Similar to the 2020 signing, there’s real excitement in witnessing the emergence of an underappreciated talent at Manchester United, particularly given how frequently the club has struggled with pursuing high-profile, costly signings instead.
If Sinayoko joins on a free transfer, he may fit the Ighalo mold, having been a dependable, if not dazzling performer throughout his time in France. Currently on AFCON duty with Mali, the 6-foot-1 forward has netted six times this season in Ligue 1, following a tally of 14 goals and assists in the previous term in France’s top division.
While he may not be an overwhelming scorer himself, he would – like Ighalo – provide United with a significant focal point in their attack, with his physical attributes reflected in his ranking among the top 2% of strikers in Europe’s top five leagues for interceptions per 90 minutes, according to FBref, and within the top 8% for tackles made. Similarly, like Ighalo – who scored 16 goals in 37 matches for Nigeria – Sinayoko has showcased his talent on the international stage, with two recent goals during this year’s AFCON bringing his total to nine goals in 27 appearances for his national team.
With Sesko underperforming and Zirkzee seemingly bound for Roma, United clearly requires at least one striker as they approach 2026, making a cost-effective move for a player like Sinayoko potentially ideal. Just as Ighalo did previously, he might astonish a few fans.
Published: 2025-12-28 14:10:00
source: www.footballfancast.com
