Ighalo close to joining Mikel in China

Nigeria’s striker, Odion Ighalo is on the verge of moving to Chinese Super League side Changchun Yatai, to join in national teammate, John Obi Mikel.

According to reports in England, Watford have agreed around £20 million for the Nigeria international striker.

However, the 27-year-old forward, it has been reported, is yet to make a decision on moving to the East Asian nation.

West Bromwich Albion have emerged as the Premier League team interested in signing Ighalo but the huge transfer fee demanded by Watford leaves The Baggies with no chance of landing their target in this January transfer window.

Ighalo still wants to remain in the Premier League and according to British newspapers, The Guardian, the striker will weigh consider moving to “an unnamed club willing to offer him a loan deal with an option to make the deal permanent at the end of the season.”

Previous reports had suggested that Ighalo’s agents held discussions with another Super League side Hebei China Fortune.

Watford manager Walter Mazzarri did confirm that the club have received offers for their Nigerian striker but gave away no details of the player’s likely destination.

“With Odion Ighalo we know there are some offers, but it is still too early to say anything. I just heard now there is a very important (bid), but again we will evaluate in the next days. I don’t like to say all the details, because I don’t know them, but I know there is more than one, and there might be one from China,” he said before their FA Cup game against Millwall on Sunday.

Ighalo has made 18 Premier League appearances for Watford this season and scored just one goal.