Manchester United have signed Shanghai Shenhua striker Odion Ighalo on loan for the rest of the season, the club have confirmed.

The Red Devils reportedly don’t have the option to buy the forward in the summer and they are believed to be paying half of the 30-year-old’s £300,000 a week salary.

Ighalo will not undergo a medical as it is understood he is match fit, and he will arrive in the UK over the weekend to join up with his new teammates.

United were forced to move for the Nigerian international after their attempts to sign Joshua King from Bournemouth failed. It is was claimed that the Manchester club made a £20m offer for the Norwegian international yesterday morning, but after holding further talks with the Cherries, it became clear that a deal could not be agreed.

Ighalo was always an option for United as we reported a couple of days ago.

Ighalo has had a good record whilst playing in China. During his three years in the Far East, he scored 46 goals in 72 appearances for Changchun Yatai and Shanghai.