Aston Villa turned down Odion Ighalo transfer 24 hours before shock Man Utd Deadline Day move – The Sun

ASTON VILLA rejected the chance to sign Odion Ighalo just 24 hours before his shock Manchester United transfer.

The Nigerian striker, 30, completed a dramatic late move to Old Trafford on Deadline Day as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scrambled to get a striker in before the transfer window closed.

He joined on an initial six-month loan deal for £3million from Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua, with United paying a third of his eye-watering £300,000-a-week wages.

The forward has been brought in as emergency cover for Marcus Rashford, whose return date is still unknown following the stress fracture suffered in his back.

But according to Sky Sports' Jim White, Ighalo could have joined Villa – but the Midlanders turned down the opportunity to bring him in.

Dean Smith lost record signing Wesley Moraes for the rest of the season when he suffered a horror knee injury.

He did sign forward Mbwana Samatta for around £8.5m with the Tanzanian making his debut against Leicester on Tuesday.

But the Aston Villa gaffer was determined to bring in another striker before Friday's 11pm deadline as his side look to avoid relegation.

And he did manage to get Borja Baston through the door on a free transfer from Swansea on the final day of the window.

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