'At His Best Ighalo Was The Natural Finisher' - Chelsea's Verdict On Manchester United's Deadline Signing

Previewing the upcoming blockbuster clash against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Monday night, Chelsea historian Rick Glanvill and club statistician Paul Dutton had their say on The Reds deadline day signing Odion Ighalo.

The former Nigeria international was quoted as being 'the natural finisher in an old-school centre-forward pairing....' and they highlighted that he finished the season as 22nd (20th, ed) in the Chinese Super League scoring charts but failed to take into account that his campaign was disrupted by injuries.

"Manchester United made two additions in January: Odion Ighalo from Shanghai Shenhua and Bruno Fernandes, formerly of Sporting Lisbon,'' Chelsea wrote on their official website.

"At his best, for Quique Sanchez Flores’s Watford, Ighalo was the natural finisher in an old-school centre-forward pairing with chance-creator Troy Deeney.

"Last season the Nigerian was 22nd in the China Super League list of leading goalscorers with 10 (one more than former Blue, Oscar).

"The 30-year-old Nigerian’s involvement on Monday is in some doubt, though, as his last match action was in early December and he has been training by himself rather than meeting his new club-mates at their training camp in Andalusia."

During his Watford days, Ighalo started three Premier League games against Chelsea but did not get on the scoresheet.

Igho Kingsley

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