Manchester United ’s call to sign Odion Ighalo could have raised many eyebrows, however Mark Bosnich claims the Nigerian striker might become another Eric Cantona for the Red Devils.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s seek for a lot of firepower at old Trafford took him into deadline day as the January transfer window closed for one more year.

It appeared at one stage like the Red Devils would be left empty-handed, however a shock swoop for former Watford frontman Ighalo was pushed through with time still on the clock.

Questions are asked of whether or not the 30-year-old will build the desired impact for United , inspirationally needed from somewhere with Marcus Rashford sidelined through injury.

Plenty have urged that Ighalo doesn’t fit the mould, with a marquee addition expected, however Bosnich feels an experienced choice might surprise many individuals – as an iconic Frenchman once did.

The former Red Devils goalkeeper told Sky Sports : “This was an emergency signing.

“I can understand tons of individuals taking a few scatter gun approach, well it had to be with Marcus Rashford being out.

“The top four continues to be attainable for Manchester United, they had to go and get somebody.

“The boy that’s come in has nothing to lose, no one expects something unbelievable from him however they positively required someone in that position.

“You ne’er know. A long, while past Manchester United signed a particular Frenchman (Cantona) who nobody really expected a lot of from and he ended up propelling them to 1 of their most successful seasons of all time.”

Ighalo recorded thirty-nine goals across ninety nine appearances for Watford before heading to
China.

He has currently been brought back to England from Shanghai Shenhua once being prolific in Asia, and Bosnich believes his arrival keeps United within the hunt for a top-four end.

Quizzed on whether or not Solskjaer’s side will secured Champions League qualification, the Australian added: “I think they’ll, there’s no doubt about that.

“Six points at this stage of the season for me continues to be nothing.

“The huge question of them not scoring goals is the way that they’re playing.

“People would have a lot more confidence if that they had been looking at performances and saying okay this team is really going somewhere.

“I do believe that they are.

Whether or not they’re going to be able creep into that top four at the end of the season could be a completely different question entirely.

“There’s a still an opportunity, regardless of what anyone says they are still within the mix.”