Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admits January signing is at Manchester United on merit while he is living his dream, hinting at considering a permanent move in the summer.
Ighalo joined United on loan from Chinese Super League side, Shanghai Shenhua until the end of this season, but has been a revelation in the few matches he has played so far.
He stroke his first goal in the 5-0 Europa League win against Club Brugge.
The Nigerian star was brought basically to cover-up the place of Marcus who has been out for injury he suffered in mid-January.
But Ole Gunnar confirms Ighalo could earn himself a permanent transfer in the summer.
‘It doesn’t hurt [living the dream] but he’s here on merit, he’s here because he is a goalscorer and a different type of striker for us,’ Solskjaer told Sky Sports.
‘We might get to the summer and think we want to extend this, who know? ‘He’s come in as a breath of fresh air as well. He had chances in his five minutes against Chelsea, he scored against Bruges, he had chances against Watford, he had a very good save [from a shot] against Everton – there have been good saves, he doesn’t miss the target very often. ‘Even for Anthony (Martial), Mason (Greenwood) and Marcus (Rashford) to learn that it is where the sharks are swimming. It’s comfortable outside the box and you can have a few shots.
‘It’s in there where it might be a bit tougher and you might get hurt – that’s where you get goals.’
United will be up against Derby on Thursday for their FA Cup fifth round at iPro Stadium. If they win, they will face relegation-threatened Norwich City.