Man Utd transfer news: Red Devils face contract dilemma following Premier League season extension to combat the Coronavirus crisis.
The Coronavirus crisis has caused football leagues around the world to delay their season in a bid to tackle the pandemic that has become an international cause of concern. Taking into consideration the well being of the general public and the club staff including the players, the Premier League called off their campaign until April 3rd which has now been extended until the 30th of the very same month.
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The League has reiterated its decision to complete the season. The FA have agreed to an indefinite extension of the season in order to maintain the integrity of the competitions. The FA’s rules and regulations state ‘the season shall terminate not later than the 1 June’. However, the Premier League clubs still have either nine or 10 fixtures left to play. It is likely that the matches will continue well into July.
Premier League announces that, along with FA & EFL, it has scrapped rule that season must end by June 1 & extended “indefinitely”. Message is clear: season 2019-2020 will be completed. No games until April 30 at earliest
— Sam Wallace (@SamWallaceTel) March 19, 2020
This puts Manchester United and several other clubs in quite the conundrum with several players whose contract expire on June 30th. United have in their ranks, Odion Ighalo, who is playing for them on loan from Shanghai Shenhua.
Odion Ighalo contract dilemma
Should the season continue, United will be without one of their key players. One who has been crucial in their ascension in the last few weeks. Ighalo has scored, 4 goals in 8 games for the Red Devils. However, he does not have an option to buy clause in his contract. Unfortunately, with the transfer season likely to be postponed until the end of the season, it seems that the club’s hands are tied.
Fortunately for the club, FIFA has said that they are analysing the issue of player contracts. In a statement released last week, they said:
“FIFA is analysing the current situation and the potential impact it may have on all areas of football, including player contracts. More information will follow in due course.”
Manchester United will closely follow the news in order to keep track of what can be done regarding the player that has impressed his manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in his short stay at the club.
“Odion has done really well since he came in and he’s enjoying himself,” Solskjaer said. “And he will improve and get better but he has qualities we saw in him and we needed and we will still need those qualities for next season, so let’s see what we will do.”
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