Odion Ighalo: Newcastle include former Man Utd and Watford striker on list of potential targets

Odion Ighalo is one of a number of strikers Newcastle United are looking at ahead of the January transfer window.

Ighalo, who has had previous spells in the Premier League with Watford and Manchester United, is currently playing for Al Shabab in Saudi Arabia.

Al Shabab have informally asked Ighalo if he would be interested should Newcastle come in for him, and Sky Sports News has been told he would seriously consider a move if contact is made.

Ighalo is the joint top scorer in the Saudi Professional League this season with nine goals. The Nigerian moved to the Middle East from Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua after his loan deal at Old Trafford came to an end earlier this year.

The 32-year-old’s contract at Al Shabab expires in the summer of 2023.

Ighalo scored 40 goals in 100 appearances for Watford between 2014 and 2017 and netted five times in 23 games for United during his year-long spell at the club between January 2020 and Janaury 2021.

Newcastle’s January transfer plans analysed
Sky Sports News’ Keith Downie and Lyall Thomas take a look at Newcastle’s plans for the January transfer window as they battle against relegation from the Premier League.

Newcastle are working hard on a wish-list of players provided by Eddie Howe to improve their squad in January and try to survive in the Premier League.

The new head coach and his staff have drawn up a catalogue of talent they would like to sign – but they have found themselves between a rock and a hard place as they try to balance the short-term task of survival and a longer-term vision that may include the Championship.

The club have been linked with a string of high-profile names from across Europe since the new Saudi Arabia-backed owners took over – and they do have the financial muscle to be able to afford them.

But Sky Sports News has been told that many of these players are reluctant to join a relegation fight and even more keen to avoid playing in the second tier during a World Cup year.

Which players have been linked with Newcastle?
The transfer window opens on January 1, when Newcastle will have their first chance to enter the transfer market since the Saudi-backed buyout of Mike Ashley.

A huge number of players have been linked, including Barcelona’s Ousmane Dembele and Tottenham centre-half Joe Rodon.

Keep up to date with all the transfer rumours ahead of the window.

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