Darren Bent Fears Manchester United's Permanent Signing Of Ighalo Will Slow The Progress Of Greenwood

Former Tottenham Hotspur striker Darren Bent believes the progress of teenage striker Mason Greenwood could be hampered next season if Manchester United acquire Odion Ighalo on a permanent deal.

There was no option to buy in the deal taking the 2019 Africa Cup of top scorer to the Red Devils in the January transfer window but manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær hinted after the Europa League match against LASK that there's a possibility of the Nigerian remaining at the club for the 2020-2021 season.

Given that Marcus Rashford is untouchable in United's starting line-up, four players will be competing for the two remaining spots in attack next term if Ighalo extends his stay, with Greenwood last in the pecking order.

Speaking to talkSPORT, Bent said : "It might hamper him, maybe a little bit. As far as next season goes (If United keep Ighalo), they'll have Rashford, Ighalo, Martial, Greenwood and James.

"That's five and they never play a front two, it's always a front three.

"So you’re going to have Ighalo down the middle, Rashford down the left, Martial really can't play from the right, so you’ve got Dan James and Greenwood just sitting there."

Since United confirmed the signing of Ighalo, Greenwood has started two out of a possible nine matches in all competitions.

Igho Kingsley